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Potentilla norvegica (Rough Cinquefoil)

Rough Cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica) This adventive plant is an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial. It initially consists of a rosette of basal leaves about 6" across, later developing flowering stalks about 1-2' long. The basal leaves are trifoliate with long hairy petioles. Each leaflet is obovate or oval, coarsely serrated, and slightly hairy across the upper surface; it is typically about 2" long and 1" across. The flowering stalks have long spreading hairs and alternate trifoliate leaves. They are often reddish green in appearance and semi-erect or spreading. The lower to middle alternate leaves are similar in appearance to the basal leaves, except that they are slightly smaller and have shorter petioles. The upper leaves are often simple and sessile, resembling narrow leaflets of the lower leaves. Individual flowers may develop from the axils of these upper leaves on short pedicels, although most of the flowers occur in a terminal inflorescence consisting of a panicle of cymes. This inflorescence has leafy bracts and its hairy stems have a tendency to zigzag between the cymes of flowers. Each flower is about ½" across, consisting of 5 yellow petals that are obcordate, 5 green sepals that are triangular and spreading, 10-20 stamens with yellow anthers, and a dome-shaped receptacle that is also yellow. The sepals are slightly longer than the petals and clearly visible from above. Under each flower, there are 5 green bracts that are spreading and ovate-triangular. They are initially shorter than the sepals, but become about the same length when the flower blooms. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 1-2 months; the flowers bloom sporadically during this period. The seeds are somewhat flattened, asymmetrically reniform, and dark brown. The root system consists of a shallow branching taproot. This plant spreads by reseeding itself.

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