Potentilla gracilis var. flabelliformis

(Lehmann) Nuttall in J. Torrey and A. Gray

in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 440. 1840.

Endemic
Basionym: Potentilla flabelliformis Lehmann Nov. Stirp. Pug. 2: 12. 1830
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 157. Mentioned on page 154, 155.

Stems (3–) 5–8 (–10) dm. Basal leaves: petiole (7–) 10–25 (–30) cm, long hairs abundant, usually ± appressed, 0.5–2 (–3) mm, stiff, crisped and cottony hairs usually absent, glands usually absent; leaflets 5–7, separate to overlapping, largest oblanceolate to obovate, (3.5–) 5–9 (–11) × 2–4 cm, margins revolute, ± whole length evenly or unevenly incised 3/4+ to midvein, undivided medial blade 3–6 mm wide, teeth 6–10 per side, often secondarily toothed, linear, (8–) 10–20 (–35) mm, surfaces strongly dissimilar, abaxial white, long hairs sparse to common (mostly on veins), cottony or crisped-cottony hairs dense, glands absent or obscured, adaxial usually dark green, sometimes grayish green, long hairs sparse to common (mostly on veins), crisped hairs absent or sparse, cottony hairs and glands usually absent. Flowers: epicalyx bractlets 4–8 × 0.8–2 mm; hypanthium 3.5–5.5 mm diam.; petals 5–10 × 5–12 mm; carpels 20–50, styles (1–) 1.5–2 mm. Achenes 1.1–1.5 mm. 2n = 56–65.


Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Montane meadows in aspen and conifer woodlands, sagebrush communities, grasslands
Elevation: 200–2000 m

Distribution

V9 229-distribution-map.jpg

Alta., B.C., Man., Ont., Sask., Calif., Idaho, Mich., Minn., Mont., Oreg., Wash., Wis., Wyo.

Discussion

Variety flabelliformis is relatively distinctive, perhaps on par with members of sect. Graciles treated here as species. Plants are relatively large, with deeply incised leaves that are notably bicolored with dense cottony hairs abaxially. There are two morphs with some geographic underpinning, possibly deserving taxonomic recognition. One morph, characteristic of the northern prairies and including the type, has simply pectinate leaves with a very narrow undivided medial blade and narrow teeth lacking secondary toothing. The second morph tends to have unevenly incised leaves with a wider undivided medial blade and teeth that are often tapering and secondarily toothed. This morph is centered in the montane valleys of the northern Rocky Mountains, extending as far south as Modoc County in northeastern California.

Collections of var. flabelliformis from eastern locations (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) are probably introductions, possibly of uncertain persistence. Historical reports from Alaska, Colorado, Nebraska, and Nevada are unconfirmed as this variety.

Although Potentilla flabelliformis var. ctenophora Rydberg [= P. gracilis var. ctenophora (Rydberg) B. Boivin] is commonly treated as a synonym of P. flabelliformis, P. A. Rydberg (1908d) had placed it in synonymy under P. blaschkeana (addressed here under var. gracilis). Rydberg (1897, 1898) did not designate a type or syntypes, so the proper disposition of var. ctenophora awaits lectotypification.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thin" is not a number."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."(" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.

stiff +  and weak +
1.1mm +  and 1.5mm +
grayish green +  and dark green +
stiff +  and weak +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.16 cm1.6 mm <br />0.0016 m <br />) +
0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
acute;long acuminate +
Barbara Ertter +  and James L. Reveal +
(Lehmann) Nuttall in J. Torrey and A. Gray +
separate +  and overlapping +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (11 cm110 mm <br />0.11 m <br />) +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
subpalmate +  and palmate +
40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br /> (55 cm550 mm <br />0.55 m <br />) +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
Potentilla flabelliformis +
25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
less cordate or reniform +  and narrowly elliptic +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
coriaceous +
reduced +
free +  and distinct +
hairy +  and glabrous +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, Ont. +, Sask. +, Calif. +, Idaho +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Mont. +, Oreg. +, Wash. +, Wis. +  and Wyo. +
not +  and aggregated +
200–2000 m +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
linear +  and narrowly lanceolate or elliptic +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
not +  and aggregated +
deciduous +
on style scar +, hairy +  and glabrous +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.26 cm2.6 mm <br />0.0026 m <br />) +
common;sparse;common;sparse +
Montane meadows in aspen and conifer woodlands, sagebrush communities, grasslands +
stoloniferous +  and short-rhizomatous +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
blue-green +, green +  and grayish +
straight +
spreading +, less appressed +  and ascending +
cottony +  and crisped-cottony +
sparse +  and common +
crisped +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br /> (0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br />) +
0.5mm;2.5mm +
turbinate +, patelliform +  and cupulate +
(4-)10-50(-60)-flowered +
crassinucellate +
bipinnate +, odd-pinnate +, subpalmate +, palmate +  and ternate +
opposite +  and alternate +
stiff +  and weak +
distal +  and up-to-distal +
marcescent +
well-developed +
persistent +
cauline +  and basal +
reduced +
separate +  and overlapping +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (11 cm110 mm <br />0.11 m <br />) +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
oblanceolate +  and obovate +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +  and 4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (?) +
linear +  and oblanceolate +
palmate +  and pinnate +
blue-green +, green +  and grayish +
stiff +  and weak +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
blue-green +, green +  and grayish +
stiff +  and weak +
inferior +  and superior +
clustered +, biseriate +  and superposed +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (6.5 cm65 mm <br />0.065 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
bright-yellow +
free +  and distinct +
5mm;10mm +
usually longer +
obcordate +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
Flowering summer. +
adnate +, free +, connate +  and distinct +
subpinnate +, palmate +  and subpalmate +
not flagelliform +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (40 cm400 mm <br />0.4 m <br />) +
in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. +
not arillate +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
persistent +
free +  and distinct +
erect +  and spreading +
lanceolate +  and broadly ovate or deltate +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
stiff +  and weak +
free +  and distinct +
not rooting +
reddish +  and green +
ascending +  and erect +
1 +  and many +
not flagelliform +
palmate +  and pinnate +
linear;ovate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
deciduous +
distinct +
subapical +
papillate-swollen +  and tapered +
rough-thickened +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
blue-green +, green +  and grayish +
stiff +  and weak +
incised +, flat +  and more or less revolute +
Potentilla sect. Candidae +, Potentilla sect. Heptaphyllae +, Potentilla sect. Longipedunculatae +, Potentilla sect. Nuttallianae +, Potentilla sect. Pectinisectae +  and Potentilla sect. Permolles +
not fleshy-thickened +
Potentilla gracilis var. flabelliformis +
Potentilla gracilis +
variety +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (3.5 cm35 mm <br />0.035 m <br />) +
blue-green +, green +  and grayish +
stiff +  and weak +
6 (?) +  and 10 (?) +
toothed +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
inconspicuous +
enlarged +
biennial +, annual +  and perennial +
herb +  and matted +