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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Silverweed
Potentilla anserina L.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Rose (Rosaceae)
Flowering: May-October
Field Marks: This Potentilla is readily recognized by its white, silky hairs on the lower surface of the leaflets. The flowers are solitary at the tips of leafless stalks that arise from the creeping stolons.
Habitat: Along streams, moist soils, particularly in alkaline areas.
Habit: Perennial herb with stolons.
Stems: Only flower-bearing upright stems present, up to 6 inches long, hairy.
Leaves: Nearly all basal, pinnately compound, with 7-31 leaflets: each leaflet obovate to oblong, interspersed with smaller leaflets, up to 1 1/2 inches long, pointed or rounded at the tip, tapering or rounded at the base, silvery-silky, particu
Flowers: Solitary at the tip of often leafless stalks: bractlets usually a little longer than the sepals.
Sepals: 5, green, united to form a cup, the lobes 1/6-1/4 inch long, pointed, hairy, spreading or turned downward at flowering time.
Petals: 5, yellow, free from each other, 1/4-1/2 inch long, rounded at the tip.
Stamens: 20-25.
Pistils: Several, free from each other; ovary superior.
Fruits: Achenes ovoid, up to 1/8 inch long, corky, grooved, yellow-brown.

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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:26:28 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww55]