Alchemilla micans

Plants medium-sized, dark green, often somewhat sericeous (abaxial surface of leaves), sometimes reddish brown, especially on exposed distal part of stems and inflorescences, to 50 cm. Stems usually densely spreading- to slightly ascending-hairy, usually glabrous in distal 1/2. Leaves: stipules translucent, strongly wine red-tinged proximally, lobes pale green, sometimes suffused wine red; petiole densely spreading- or slightly ascending-hairy (especially in distal 1/3); blade usually reniform to orbiculate, 7–9-lobed, margins flat, sometimes slightly undulate, basal sinuses relatively wide or narrow, basal lobes not overlapping, middle lobes rounded, as long as to longer than their half-widths, to as long as wide and with straight sides; incisions usually absent or relatively short; teeth usually slightly connivent, almost symmetric to ± asymmetric, apex acute, abaxial surface with nerves hairy throughout, internerve regions uniformly or irregularly hairy, adaxial densely appressed-hairy throughout. Inflorescences: primary branches often sparsely, sometimes densely, ascending-hairy; peduncles glabrous or hairy. Pedicels glabrous or some of the proximal hairy. Flowers dark green, often becoming reddish; epicalyx bractlet lengths 0.5+ times sepals (narrower); hypanthium attenuate at base, usually glabrous, rarely sparsely hairy (in proximal flowers). Achenes not exserted.

Phenology: Flowering late May–Sep.
Habitat: Meadows, moist sand
Elevation: 0–400 m

Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Que., Maine, N.Y., Europe.

Discussion

Alchemilla micans has been widely known as A. gracilis Opiz; the type of that name is referable to A. monticola, a species that the original description also fits better.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa