THE ROSE FAMILY 
85 
achenes, small, dry, i-seeded fruits, which do not open, but decay to free the seeds (indehiscent). 
Herbs with leaves divided to the base (palmate), or to the midrib (pinnate). Stipules joined to 
the leaf-stalks (petioles). 
* Norwegian Cinquefoil. (Potentilla norvegiea, Linn.)— Not a native; probably 
brought from Norway with timber. As just described. The flowers yellow, in crowded clusters 
(racemes), the stems from 8-10 inches high, hairy, and the leaves divided from the base into 
3 leaflets (palmate). 
Not a native. Introduced into Cambridgeshire and several other counties. June — July. Annual. 
* Hairy Cinquefoil. (Potentilla hirta, Linn.) — Another introduced species, similar to 
the last, but with much narrower leaflets, which are from 5-7 in number. 
Rare. Not a native. 
Barren Strawberry. (Potentilla Fragariastrum, Ehrh.)— Flowers £ inch across, 
few, white, in terminal clusters (cymes). Sepals 5, longer than the outer row of 5 bracts 
(epicalyx) ; petals 5, short, notched, white; stamens numerous; carpels numerous. Fruit a head 
of achenes, small, dry, i-seeded fruits, which decay to free the seeds (indehiscent). Stems 1-6 
inches high, short and tufted, procumbent, without runners ; the leaves on long stalks, divided 
to the base into 3 oval, scalloped leaflets (palmately trifoliate) ; the stipules lance-shaped. This 
plant resembles the true Wood Strawberry, but it is characterised by the difference in the fruits, 
in the petals being narrower, in having no runners, and in the early flowering. [ Plate 41. 
Very common. Banks and hedges. January — May. Perennial. 
Spring Cinquefoil. (Potentilla verna, Linn.) — Flowers J inch across, yellow, stalked, 
1-3 together in a loose cluster. Sepals 5 ; bracts 5 ; petals 5, yellow, notched ; stamens 
numerous ; carpels numerous. Fruit a head of achenes, small, dry, 1 -seeded fruits which decay 
to free the seeds (indehiscent). Stems 1-6 inches long, prostrate, hairy, the lower leaves on long 
stalks, divided to the base into 5-7 oblong, toothed, hairy leaflets ; the upper leaves nearly 
stalkless (sessile), divided to the base into 3-5 toothed leaflets ; the stipules entire, those of the 
root-leaves narrow, and those of the stem-leaves broadly lance-shaped. 
Rare. Dry banks and pastures in hilly districts. April — June. Perennial. 
Alpine Cinquefoil. (Potentilla rubens, Vill.) — A very similar species, with more 
numerous and larger flowers, 1 inch across, of a deeper yellow, and stems 4-10 inches high. 
Very rare. Rocks and mountain slopes in the north of England, Wales, and Scotland. June — 
July. Perennial. 
Common Tormentil. (Potentilla silvestris, Neck.)— Flowers £-§ inch across, yellow, 
on long stalks (peduncles), apparently solitary. Sepals 4 ; bracts 4, narrower than the sepals ; 
petals 4, rarely 5, notched ; stamens numerous ; carpels numerous. Fruit a head of achenes, 
small, dry, i-seeded fruits, which decay to free the seeds (indehiscent). Stems 6-10 inches high, 
numerous, branched ; the leaves of the root (radical) stalked, of the stem (cauline) stalkless 
(sessile), all deeply lobed to the base into 3, rarely 5, lobed and toothed leaflets, the outer leaflets 
being so deeply lobed as to give the leaf the appearance of having 5 leaflets. Stipules lobed or entire. 
Very common. Heaths, open woods, banks. June — September. Perennial. \Plate 41. 
Trailing Tormentil. (Potentilla procumbens, Sibth.) — A very similar species, having 
larger, nearly solitary floweis, usually with 5 petals, longer and more prostrate stems, often 1-2 feet 
long, and the stem-leaves staiked. 
Common. Banks and woods. June — August. Perennial. 
Creeping Cinquefoil. (Potentilla reptans, Linn.) — Flowers f inch across, bright 
yellow, solitary, on long stalks (peduncles) opposite the leaves. Sepals 5 ; bracts 5, as large and 
broad as the sepals ; petals 5 ; stamens numerous ; carpels numerous. Fruit a head of achenes, 
