IRose Jfamil^. 



Five-finger. PotenUlla Ccmadensis. 



Common Cinquefoil. 



Fouod, from May to July, about dwellings and in pastures, and 

 light shade ; in sandy soil. 



The root sends up a bunch of leaves, from which many long, 

 slender, reddish runners spread ; they vary much in length. 



The compound leaves are 3-divided, with an appearance of being 

 5-parted the side leaflets are so deeply cleft into 2 divisions ; the 

 leaflets are wedge-shaped with noticeable ribs, sharply-toothed margin, 

 thin texture, and downy surface. The color is a strong, full green, 

 lighter underneath. The leaves, on long stems, rise from the root, or 

 on very short stems are arranged along the running stems, in little 

 gi'oups, at rather long intervals apart. 



The 5 heart-shaped petals of the flower are delicate in texture, and 

 light pure yellow in color ; the calyx is 5-parted, the divisions alternate 

 with the petals, and with the 5 narrow bracts which hug the calyx 

 closely, — all these parts are hairy, and green. The flowers, on slender 

 stems, spring from the angles of the leaves, along the runners. 



Sometimes the stems lift themselves nearly erect, but more often 

 they lie upon the ground, where occasionally they throw out roots from 

 the tufted leaves, and so cover the earth with a pretty interlacing net- 

 work of green leaves, and red stems. 



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