162 
THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS I. 
POTENTILLA, Liiu THE CINQUEFOIL. 
Lin. Syst. ICOSANDRIA POLYGYNIA. 
Okneiuc CniaiCTER Calyx ten-cleft, the outer segments accessory, foliaceous, and tridentate. Petals five. Stamens numerous. Carpels 
numerous, dry, seated on an elevated torus. Styles lateral. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The Potentilla is very nearly allied to the strawberry, the principal difference being in 
the fruit, which in the strawberry is of a fine flavour and juicy, while in the Potentilla it is dry and insipid. 
The Potentillas have all compound leaves, like the strawberry ; with the stipules adhering to the petioles. The 
leaves of most of the species have only three leaflets, but those of the British species have five leaflets ; and hence 
the common English, or rather French, name of the genus, which is Cinquefoil, or five-leaved. Some of the exotic 
species have seven or nine leaflets. The Latin name, " Potentilla," signifies " power," from some powerful virtues 
attributed to this plant in medicine. 
1.— POTENTILLA GRANDIFLORA, Lin. THE LARGE-FLOWERED POTENTTLLA. 
large. Petals obcordate, twice the length of the calyx. Recq)tacle 
pilose. (G. Don.) 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag. t. 75. 
Specific CuAiticTEa. — Stem ascending, few-flowered. Leaves temate, 
leaflets obovate, connected at the base, deeply serrated, pilose. Stipules 
Description, &c. — A pretty little plant, with bright yellow flowers, which are badly named, as they are 
much smaller than those of several other species. This plant is a native of the mountains of Europe and Siberia. 
It was introduced in 1640, and it is quite hardy in British gardens, where it requires only the common 
treatment of hardy perennials. 
2.— POTENTILLA ATROSANGUINEA, Lodd. THE DARK RED POTENTILLA. 
obovate, deeply serrated, clothed with white tomentum beneath. 
Petals obcordate, much longer than the calyx. 
Engravings.— Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 786 ; Bot. Mag. t. 2689 ; and 
our J!p. 2 in Plate 38. 
Specific Character. — Stem decumbent ; leaves temate ; leaflets 
Description, &c. — This splendid Potentilla has flowers of the darkest and richest crimson. It is a native 
of Nepaul, whence it was introduced in 1822. It is quite hardy, and will grow in any common garden soil. 
It is a decumbent plant, producing its large flowers at the extremity of its shoots. Some splendid hybrids have 
been produced, by fertilising the seeds of other species of Potentilla with the pollen of this plant. 
3.— POTENTILLA GRACILIS, Doug. THE SLENDER CINQUEFOIL. 
Engraving— Bot. Mag. t. 2984. pinnatiBdly serrated, clothed with white tomentum beneath; stipules 
Specific Character. — Stems erect, tall, beset with soft hairs, large, lanceolate, entire ; petals obcordate, longer than the calyx, which 
eorymbosely panicled at the apex ; leaves quinate, lower ones on long is silky. (G. Don.) 
petioles, upper ones almost sessile ; leaflets lanceolate, deeply and 
Description, &c. — This is a Californian species, with golden yellow flowers, introduced by Douglas in 1826. 
It is quite hardy, and grows in light sandy soil nearly two feet high. 
4.— POTENTILLA ERECTA, Lin. THE ERECT POTENTILLA. 
Specific Character. — Stem erect, pilose. Leaves with 5 — 7 1 Lower stipules lanceolate, entire; upper ones broader, and jagged, 
leaflets; leaflets oblong, deeply serrated, beset with spreading pilli. I Petals obcordate, exceeding the calyx. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This species is exceedingly common on the Continent, whence it was first sent to England 
in 1648. The flowers are pale yellow, and in terminal corymbs; and the plant grows from one foot to two 
feet high. 
