Potentilla bimundorum : Branched Cinquefoil

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Genera: Potentilla (Cinquefoil) (Lat. potens=powerful; referring to the strengh of the medicine from some species)

Species: bimundorum

Synonym(s): P. multifida

English Name(s):

Branched Cinquefoil,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Arising from a much branched dark brown caudex (base).
• Stems leafy, 10-30cm high, erect or ascending, sparsely to densely pubescent (hairy).

Leaves:

• Basal leaves petioled (stalked), pinnate, leaflets 5-7.
• Leaflets deeply dissected into mostly linear (narrow) segments, with revolute(inrolled) margins.
• Upper surface green, lower surface tomentos (woolly).

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescence (flower cluster) a leafy-bracted cyme with branches ascending.
• Sepals 5, ovate-triangular in shape, pubescent (hiary) with soft white hairs, alternating with bractlets.
• Bractlets 5, linear, acute as long as the sepals.
• Petals 5, yellow, about as long as the sepals.
• Styles (female parts) filiform (threadlike).

Seed:

• Fruit is a small, dry, seedlike, achene (nutlet).

Not to Be Confused With:

• Potentilla biflora (Two-flower Cinquefoil) which can be distinguished by its ternate (3-parted) leaves, and its shorter stature.
• No other Potentilla (Cinquefoil) has leaves as deeply dissected as P. Bimundorum and P.biflora.

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Leaves deciduous (falling).

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Gravel lakeshores, sandy banks, gravel outwash fans, and disturbed gravelly places.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• In astrology Potentilla are said to be governed by Jupiter.
• In the Victorian Language of Flowers these plants symbolized "beloved daughter" or " I claim, at least, your esteem".
• Potentilla were said to flourish in the gardens of witches. One of few yellow flowers they cared for.

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: