Stems ascending to erect, (1–) 2–5 dm. Basal leaves subpinnate to subpalmate, (6–) 10–25 cm; petiole (2–) 5–15 cm, long hairs dense, appressed, 1–2 mm, soft to ± stiff, short hairs absent, crisped hairs sparse, glands absent, sparse, or obscured; leaflets 2–3 per side, on distal 1/6–1/3 (–1/2) of leaf axis, separate to ± overlapping, terminal ones oblanceolate, (2–) 3–6 (–10) × 1–2 (–3.5) cm, margins revolute, incised 3/4+ to midvein, undivided medial blade 1.5–6 mm wide, teeth 5–8 per side, ± linear, surfaces ± to strongly dissimilar, abaxial usually white, rarely grayish, long hairs abundant especially on veins, 1–2 mm, ± weak, short hairs absent or obscured, cottony (and crisped) hairs ± dense, glands absent or obscured, adaxial green to grayish, long hairs sparse to abundant, loosely appressed, 0.5–1.5 mm, short hairs absent or sparse, crisped and/or cottony hairs sparse to common, glands sparse to common. Cauline leaves 2–4. Inflorescences (4–) 10–50 (–100) -flowered, congested or elongating in fruit. Pedicels 0.2–0.8 cm (proximal to 2 cm). Flowers: epicalyx bractlets narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 2.5–6 mm, lengths ± 2/3 times sepals, margins flat; hypanthium 3–5 mm diam.; sepals 3–6 mm, apex ± acute, abaxial surfaces: venation indistinct, glands absent, sparse, or obscured; petals yellow, 3–5 × 3–4 mm, lengths ± equal to sepals; filaments 0.5–2 mm, anthers 0.3–0.5 mm; carpels 50–80, styles papillate-swollen in proximal 1/2–3/4+, 1–1.2 mm. Achenes 1–1.2 mm, smooth to faintly rugose. 2n = 56.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Open shortgrass prairie, alkaline bottoms, streamsides in sagebrush, disturbed sites
Elevation: 10–3400 m

Distribution

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Alta., Man., N.W.T., Ont., Que., Sask., Yukon, Alaska, Colo., Idaho, Mich., Minn., Mont., Nebr., N.Mex., N.Dak., S.Dak., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Potentilla bipinnatifida is similar to P. litoralis in habit and leaf dissection but has flat, silky epicalyx bractlets and sepals with no evident glands. Vestiture is generally silkier, and the silvery to bicolor leaves are white-cottony abaxially. The two species are sympatric in the plains of Canada, with some intergradation; P. bipinnatifida is also common south to Colorado, where it is found in intermontane meadows and sagebrush flats. Outlying populations occur in Blaine and Custer counties, Idaho, and Duchesne and Piute counties, Utah. Eastern collections from disturbed sites might be adventive.

Potentilla missourica Hornemann ex Lindley and P. normalis Besser ex Sprengel are older names for this species; both were rejected against a conserved P. bipinnatifida with designated lectotypes (see J. Soják 2008b).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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