Sieversia pentapetala

(Linnaeus) Greene

Pittonia 4: 49. 1899.

Common names: Aleutian or low avens
Illustrated
Basionym: Dryas pentapetala Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 501. 1753
Synonyms: Geum pentapetalum (Linnaeus) Makino
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 58.

Leaves: stipules 2–6 mm; petiole 4–15 mm, proximally expanded and sheathing stems, sheath margins ciliate; leaflets proximally narrowly elliptic, 2–6 mm, margins entire or remotely toothed, distally obovate to rhombic, 8–12 mm, margins sharply lobed or toothed apically. Inflorescences: bracts 3-fid or linear, 6–10 mm; stipule present; petiole reduced to sheathing bases. Pedicels 2.5–8 cm, glabrate to puberulent proximally, puberulent to downy distally. Flowers erect; epicalyx bractlets sometimes 2-fid distally or divided nearly in 2, 3–4 mm; sepals 4–7 mm, margins entire; petals spreading, 7–11 mm, distinctly longer than sepals. 2n = 14.


Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Moist tundra
Elevation: 0–200[–2700] m

Distribution

V9 82-distribution-map.jpg

Alaska, e Asia (Japan, Russian Far East).

Discussion

In North America Sieversia pentapetala is known only from the central Aleutian Islands. Japanese plants are somewhat larger overall than those of the Aleutians.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.