Potentilla crinita

Illustrator: Marjorie C. Leggitt

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Stems (0.5–)1.5–4.5 dm, lengths 2–4(–5) times basal leaves. Basal leaves pinnate, 3–15(–20) cm; petiole 1–10(–15) cm, long hairs dense, appressed, 1.5–2.5 mm, usually stiff, short and crisped hairs usually absent, cottony hairs absent, glands sparse, often obscured; leaflets often conduplicate, lateral ones evenly paired, (3–)4–6(–7) per side on distal 1/3–2/3 of leaf axis, distal pairs ± decurrent, often confluent with terminal leaflet, larger leaflets narrowly cuneate or oblanceolate to obovate, 1–3(–4) × 0.2–0.8(–1) cm, distal 1/4–1/2(–2/3) or less of margin incised ± 1/4 or less to midvein, teeth (0–)1–5(–9) per side, 1–2 mm, surfaces ± similar to ± dissimilar, abaxial silvery to greenish, long hairs usually dense (at least on primary veins), 1–2 mm, stiff, short-crisped hairs absent or sparse, cottony hairs usually absent, glands sparse to common, often obscured, adaxial ± green, long hairs sparse to common, sometimes absent, short, crisped, and cottony hairs absent, glands sparse. Cauline leaves 1–3(–4). Inflorescences (5–)10–30-flowered. Pedicels 0.5–2(–4) cm. Flowers: epicalyx bractlets lanceolate, 1.5–4.5 × 0.5(–1) mm, 1/2–2/3 as long as sepals, abaxial vestiture similar to or ± sparser than sepals, not glabrescent, straight hairs common, crisped or cottony hairs usually absent; hypanthium 2.5–5 mm diam.; sepals (3–)4–7 mm, apex acute to long acuminate; petals (3–)4.5–7.5(–8) × 4–6 mm; filaments 1–3 mm, anthers 0.6–1.1 mm; carpels 5–20, styles 1.6–2.6 mm. Achenes 1.4–1.7 mm, smooth or slightly rugose.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Dry meadows, pygmy conifer, oak, aspen, or montane conifer woodlands
Elevation: 2000–2600 m

Distribution

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Ariz., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Utah.

Discussion

Potentilla crinita occurs mainly in the upper foothills and mountains from southern Nevada to south-central Utah, northern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico and is disjunct to southwestern Colorado (Archuleta County). It tends to grow on somewhat drier, rockier sites than co-occurring species of Potentilla. The often conduplicate leaflets, falcate in outline, bear relatively few, small teeth. Two varieties are sometimes recognized, based on leaflet and vestiture characters that do not reliably coincide.

Potentilla crinita can hybridize with P. hippiana where the two species overlap, in spite of ecological partitioning. N. H. Holmgren (1997b) noted the type of P. crinita may be such a hybrid. If correct, then P. lemmonii would be used for the species unless the name P. crinita were to be conserved with a conserved type.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.