Potentilla pulchella

R. Brown

Chlor. Melvill., 19. 1823.

Common names: Potentille jolie
Synonyms: Potentilla pulchella var. elatior Lange P. pulchella subsp. gracilicaulis (A. E. Porsild) Jurtzev P. pulchella var. gracilicaulis A. E. Porsild P. usticapensis
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 217. Mentioned on page 193, 210, 212, 213, 218.

Stems ascending, 0.1–1.5 (–2) dm. Basal leaves subpinnate, 1.5–9 cm; petiole 0.7–4 cm, long hairs common to dense, ± appressed to ascending, 0.5–3 mm, soft, short hairs absent, crisped hairs sparse to abundant, glands absent or sparse; leaflets (1–) 2 (–3) per side, on distal 1/6–1/2 of leaf axis, separate to overlapping, terminal ones oblong or obovate, 0.4–3 × 0.2–1.2 cm, margins revolute, incised 2/3–3/4+ to midvein, undivided medial blade 2–6 mm wide, teeth 2–5 per side, linear to narrowly oblong, surfaces dissimilar, abaxial white, long hairs ± abundant, 1–2 mm, soft, short hairs absent or obscured, crisped and/or cottony hairs dense, glands absent or obscured, adaxial grayish white to dark grayish green, long hairs sparse to dense, loosely appressed to spreading, 0.5–2 mm, short hairs absent, crisped hairs absent or sparse, glands absent. Cauline leaves 1–2. Inflorescences (1–) 2–5 (–9) -flowered, ± open. Pedicels 0.5–1 cm (proximal to 5 cm). Flowers: epicalyx bractlets oblong to ovate, 2–4 (–6) × 0.8–1.3 (–2) mm, lengths ± 3/4 times sepals, margins sometimes revolute; hypanthium 2.5–4 mm diam.; sepals 3–5 mm, apex obtuse to subacute, abaxial surfaces: venation indistinct, glands ± abundant, often obscured; petals pale-yellow, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, lengths 1.5 times sepals; filaments 1–1.5 mm, anthers 0.4 mm; carpels 30–60, styles papillate-swollen in proximal 1/4–1/3, 0.9–1.2 mm. Achenes 1.4–1.5 mm, smooth or rugose. 2n = 28.


Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Dry or damp, open tundra, silt flats, stream and seashore banks, bird cliff meadows, fine scree, on loam, clay, or calcareous substrates
Elevation: 0–600 m

Distribution

V9 326-distribution-map.jpg

Greenland, Man., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon, Alaska, Eurasia

Discussion

Potentilla pulchella is morphologically isolated within sect. Pensylvanicae and is very polymorphic. The proposed races (var. elatior, subsp./var. gracilicaulis) differ only in characters appearing throughout the range of the species (more slender and erect to ascending stems, less hairy leaves). Some different morphs are often found close together but in different habitats.

Some species with palmate or subpalmate leaves combine features of Potentilla pulchella and species from sect. Niveae (addressed under 8t. sect. Rubricaules); others are possible hybrids between P. hyparctica and P. pulchella (sect. Aureae).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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... more about "Potentilla pulchella"
rugose +  and smooth +
1.4mm +  and 1.5mm +
green +, grayish white +  and dark grayish +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (?) +
obtuse;subacute +
Barbara Ertter +  and Reidar Elven +
R. Brown +
opposite +  and alternate +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
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 +
Potentille jolie +
Greenland +, Man. +, Nfld. and Labr. +, N.W.T. +, Nunavut +, Ont. +, Que. +, Yukon +, Alaska +  and Eurasia +
not +  and aggregated +
0–600 m +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
oblong +  and ovate +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.13 cm1.3 mm <br />0.0013 m <br />) +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 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 />) +
abundant;sparse +
crisped +
Dry or damp, open tundra, silt flats, stream and seashore banks, bird cliff meadows, fine scree, on loam, clay, or calcareous substrates +
stoloniferous +  and short-rhizomatous +
straight +
sparse +  and dense +
loosely appressed +  and spreading +
sparse +  and abundant +
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 />) +
0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
0.5mm;2.5mm +
turbinate +, patelliform +  and cupulate +
open +  and (1-)2-5(-9)-flowered +
crassinucellate +
bipinnate +, odd-pinnate +, subpalmate +, palmate +  and ternate +
opposite +  and alternate +
marcescent +
well-developed +
persistent +
cauline +  and basal +
reduced +
separate +  and overlapping +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
obovate +  and oblong +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +  and 1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br /> (?) +
linear +  and oblanceolate +
palmate +  and pinnate +
2/3 (?) +  and 3/4 (?) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
inferior +  and superior +
clustered +, biseriate +  and superposed +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.05 cm10.5 mm <br />0.0105 m <br />) +
pale-yellow +
free +  and distinct +
1.5 times sepals;4mm;5mm +
obovate;obcordate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
Flowering summer. +
adnate +, free +, connate +  and distinct +
pinnate +  and subpinnate or subpalmate +
25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br /> (30 cm300 mm <br />0.3 m <br />) +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (25 cm250 mm <br />0.25 m <br />) +
often significantly longer +
Chlor. Melvill., +
not arillate +
persistent +
free +  and distinct +
erect +  and spreading +
lanceolate +  and broadly ovate or deltate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
free +  and distinct +
not rooting +
reddish +  and green +
1 +  and many +
not flagelliform +
palmate +  and pinnate +
linear;ovate +
0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
deciduous +
distinct +
subapical +
papillate-swollen +
rough-thickened +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.12 cm1.2 mm <br />0.0012 m <br />) +
Potentilla pulchella var. elatior +, P. pulchella subsp. gracilicaulis +, P. pulchella var. gracilicaulis +  and P. usticapensis +
not fleshy-thickened +
Potentilla pulchella +
Potentilla sect. Pensylvanicae +
species +
2 (?) +  and 5 (?) +
linear +  and narrowly oblong +
inconspicuous +
enlarged +
biennial +, annual +  and perennial +
herb +  and matted +