Potentilla supina subsp. paradoxa
bushy cinquefoil
Rosaceae (Rose family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #19723)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Potentilla supina subsp. paradoxa
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial herb from a taproot and stem-base; stems stout, decumbent to ascending, 40-70 cm long/tall, leafy, from smooth below to long-hairy above.
Leaves:
Basal leaves few, short-stalked, oblong-egg-shaped, pinnately compound; leaflets 5 to 11, elliptic to oblong, 1-3 cm long, coarsely round-toothed; stem leaves alternate, several to many, the middle ones larger than the basal.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an open, leafy-bracted, terminal cluster of several to many stalked flowers; corollas yellow, saucer-shaped, the petals 5, broadly egg-shaped, 3-4 mm long, about as long as the calyx-lobes; calyces long-hairy, 5-lobed, the lobes triangular-egg-shaped, alternating with 5 longer narrower bractlets; ovaries superior, the styles thickened toward the base; stamens (10-15) 20.
Fruits:
Achenes, numerous, clustered, lopsided-egg-shaped with a prominent wedge-shaped, corky crest along one edge, about 1 mm long, slightly wavy-wrinkled.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Habitat and Range

Moist meadows, streambanks and lakeshores in the steppe zone; rare in SC BC; E to S ON, S to NY, KS, NM, MX and WA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Potentilla paradoxa Nutt.