Villous cinquefoil, Northern cinquefoil • Potentilla villosa
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Villous cinquefoil photographed by Brian Starzomski (top), Kelly Fretwell (bottom right), and Laura Kroesen (bottom left).
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Identification
Villous cinquefoil is a low-lying herb that grows up to 30 cm tall. It has yellow flowers with 5 petals to 8 mm long, growing in groups of one or two at the top of each stem. The leaves are quite hairy, giving the edges a white velvety appearance, and are found in groups of three near the base of the plant and in twos further up the stems, and are distinctively shaped.
Habitat & Range
Villous cinquefoil is found in open areas, like beaches, sea bluffs, meadows and rocky slopes throughout BC, at all elevations. Its range extends north to Alaska, south to Washington and Oregon and east to Alberta, with some occurrences in East Asia.
Similar Species
There are many similar species in the Potentilla genus, including one-flowered cinquefoil (P. uniflora or P. ledebouriana), a much smaller species with smaller flowers (petals up to 4-5mm long). Villous cinquefoil may be similar in size at high elevations, but the leaves are much hairier than one-flowered cinquefoil. This species does not occur on Haida Gwaii or Vancouver Island, but is present on the mainland coast. Fan-leaved cinquefoil (P. flabellifolia), diverse-leaved cinquefoil (P. diversifolia), and Drummond's cinquefoil (P. drummondii) are all found at high elevations throughout the range of villous cinquefoil, but vary in leaf shape. The leaves are mostly hairless and are less rounded and more deeply toothed than villous cinquefoil.
Villous cinquefoil is a low-lying herb that grows up to 30 cm tall. It has yellow flowers with 5 petals to 8 mm long, growing in groups of one or two at the top of each stem. The leaves are quite hairy, giving the edges a white velvety appearance, and are found in groups of three near the base of the plant and in twos further up the stems, and are distinctively shaped.
Habitat & Range
Villous cinquefoil is found in open areas, like beaches, sea bluffs, meadows and rocky slopes throughout BC, at all elevations. Its range extends north to Alaska, south to Washington and Oregon and east to Alberta, with some occurrences in East Asia.
Similar Species
There are many similar species in the Potentilla genus, including one-flowered cinquefoil (P. uniflora or P. ledebouriana), a much smaller species with smaller flowers (petals up to 4-5mm long). Villous cinquefoil may be similar in size at high elevations, but the leaves are much hairier than one-flowered cinquefoil. This species does not occur on Haida Gwaii or Vancouver Island, but is present on the mainland coast. Fan-leaved cinquefoil (P. flabellifolia), diverse-leaved cinquefoil (P. diversifolia), and Drummond's cinquefoil (P. drummondii) are all found at high elevations throughout the range of villous cinquefoil, but vary in leaf shape. The leaves are mostly hairless and are less rounded and more deeply toothed than villous cinquefoil.
References
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 189.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2013).
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (2005). Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Revised. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 189.
Authors and editors of page
Chanda Brietzke and Brian Starzomski (2013).
