The Jepson Herbarium
		University of California, Berkeley

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Annual to perennial herb; odor generally 0.
Leaf: generally basal, odd-1-pinnately, 1-palmately, or 1-ternately compound; leaflets 1–8(13) per side, ± toothed, generally ± separated, terminal generally ± = lateral; margins generally flat.
Inflorescence: generally cyme, generally ± open; pedicels generally ± straight, bractlets 0.
Flower: hypanthium ± shallow, bractlets generally 5, generally < sepals, generally flat; sepals ± triangular; petals (2)4–20 mm, >= sepals, generally ± widely obcordate, generally yellow; stamens 10–25; pistils generally > 10, ovaries superior, styles slender to ± tapering, generally attached near fruit tip.
Fruit: achene, generally glabrous.
± 400 species: mostly n temperate, arctic. (Latin: diminutive of powerful, for reputed medicinal value) Other taxa in TJM (1993) moved to Comarum, Dasiphora, Drymocallis.

Key to Potentilla

1. Fls 1, arising from axils of slender stolons

2. Lf palmate ..... P. anglica

2' Lf pinnate ..... P. anserina

3. Lf 3–15 cm, generally densely hairy adaxially; pedicel generally 2–7 cm; 1200–2600 m; SNH, SnBr, GB ..... subsp. anserina

3' Lf 3–50(75) cm, ± glabrous adaxially; pedicel generally 5–30 cm; generally < 150 m; NCo, CCo, SCo ..... subsp. pacifica

1' Fls in cymes; stolons 0

4. Styles < or ± 1 mm, tapered from rough-thickened base to tip; petals variable

5. Perennial; basal leaves generally present in flower; leaflet margins ± rolled under; rocky alpine barrens and meadows, > 2700 m

6. Lf ± palmate; leaflets ± 5, toothed > 3/4 to midvein ..... P. pseudosericea

6' Lf ± pinnate; leaflets generally 5–13, toothed ± 3/4 to midvein

7. Lflets generally 2–3 per side; petiole generally ± = blade; hypanthium bractlets < sepals, flat ..... P. jepsonii

7' Lflets 3–6 per side; petiole generally < blade; hypanthium bractlets generally ± = sepals, margins ± rolled-up ..... P. pensylvanica

5' Annual or biennial (to short-lived perennial herb); basal leaves often withered or fallen in flower; leaflet margins flat; generally moist or disturbed areas, < 3100 m

8. Lf pinnate, leaflets 9–17; petals > sepals, cream, ± obcordate — leaflets toothed > 1/2 to midvein; MP ..... P. newberryi (2)

8' Lf ternate or ± palmate, leaflets 3–7; petals < sepals (except Potentilla recta), yellow (occasionally fading white), generally elliptic to obovate

9. St-base hairs generally ± dense, glandular or not, < 1 mm, spreading or not; petals <= 2.5 mm; hypanthium generally 2–4 mm wide; fruit smooth, < 1 mm, ± white or light brown

10. St hairs glandular and not; leaflets 3, ± obovate; petals oblanceolate-elliptic ..... P. biennis

10' St hairs glandless; leaflets 3–5, oblanceolate to elliptic; petals obovate-elliptic ..... P. rivalis

9' St-base hairs sparse, glandless, < 2 mm, spreading; petals >= 3 mm; hypanthium 3–10 mm wide; fruit veined, ± 1–1.5 mm, ± brown

11. Lflets generally 3; petals 3–4 mm; anthers ± 0.3 mm; annual to short-lived perennial herb ..... P. norvegica

11' Lflets generally 6–7; petals 6–9 mm; anthers ± 1 mm; short-lived per ..... P. recta (2)

4' Styles >= 1 mm, ± slender (except Potentilla recta); petals ± obcordate, > sepals

12. Lflets 3; inflorescence generally < 7-flowered (see also Fragaria, Sibbaldia)

13. Lflets secondarily lobed as well as toothed ± 1/2 to base, sparsely hairy; styles ± rough-thickened at base; KR ..... P. cristae

13' Lflets only toothed, not secondarily lobed, ± nonglandular; styles slender throughout; KR, CaRH, SNH

14. Teeth of central leaflet generally 7–15, generally uneven, ± 1/4 to midvein; pedicel 10–20 mm; pistils > ± 20; stem ± glabrous or sparsely spreading-hairy; KR, CaRH, SNH ..... P. flabellifolia

14' Teeth of central leaflet ± 7, even, 1/4–1/2 to midvein; pedicel 10–40 mm; pistils < ± 20; stem sparsely strigose; SNH ..... P. grayi

12' Lflets > 3; inflorescence generally > 7-flowered (except Potentilla hickmanii)

15. Lf pinnate to subpalmate (see also Horkelia, Horkeliella, Ivesia)

16. Annual to short-lived per; petals cream; style 1–1.5 mm; fruit veined — receding shorelines; MP ..... P. newberryi (2)

16' Perennial; petals yellow; style generally > 1.5 mm; fruit generally smooth

17. Lf densely white-tomentose abaxially, ± green and strigose adaxially; style ± 1.5–2 mm — alpine barrens; c SNH, n W&I ..... P. morefieldii

17' Lf hairs ± similar adaxially and abaxially (but hairs often denser abaxially); style 2–3.5 mm

18. Basal leaf < 1/2 stem; pedicel ± straight in fruit; 1100–3700 m

19. Petiole generally < blade, cottony-hairy; leaflets 3–7 per side, ± overlapped, palmately toothed > 1/2 to midvein — generally cottony-hairy throughout ..... P. breweri

19' Petiole generally > blade, glabrous to shaggy-hairy; leaflets generally 2–4 per side, occasionally separated, pinnately toothed ± 1/2 to midvein, occasionally split to base

20. Lflets generally gray-hairy, ± overlapped; petiole generally dense-shaggy- or cottony-hairy ..... P. bruceae (2)

20' Lflets generally green, glabrous to ± straight-hairy, generally separated; petiole glabrous or strigose ..... P. drummondii

18' Basal leaf generally > 1/2 stem; pedicel generally ± recurved in fruit; < 2000 m

21. Lflets entire or 2–3-toothed or lobed > 1/2 to midvein, larger 5–10 mm — MP ..... P. basaltica

21' Lflets 2–10-toothed ± 1/2 or more to midvein, larger 5–22 mm

22. Lflets 5–13 per side, 3–10(15)-toothed 2/3 to nearly to midvein; pistils ± 10–30; inland

23. St 5–20 cm; leaf 2–15 cm, petiole generally < blade; CaRH, ne-most SNH, GB; 900–2000 m ..... P. millefolia

23' St 25–50 cm; leaf 15–32 cm, petiole generally ± = blade; s NCoRO/SnFrB; 30–40 m ..... P. uliginosa

22' Lflets 3–8 per side, 2–6 toothed ± 1/2–2/3 (rarely more) to midvein; pistils (2)5–15; coastal

24. Lateral leaflets toothed 1/2–2/3 (rarely more) to midvein; stem 5–25 cm; c CCo ..... P. hickmanii

24' Lateral leaflets toothed ± 1/2 to midvein; stem 20–50(70) cm; c SCo ..... P. multijuga

15' Lf (sub)palmate

25. St ± prostrate or hanging, generally <= 25 cm; pedicels generally ± recurved in fruit; leaflet teeth < 11 — > 1800 m, s CA-FP, n W&I

26. Lflets white-tomentose abaxially, ± green and strigose adaxially; n W&I ..... P. concinna var. proxima

26' Lflet surfaces ± equally strigose; s CA-FP

27. Plant hanging from granite crevices; pistils generally 5–20; fruit ± smooth; pedicels generally > 15 mm; SnJt ..... P. rimicola

27' Plant rosetted to tufted in sandy soil; pistils generally > 15; fruit ± veined; pedicels generally < 15 mm; s SNH, SnBr, SnJt ..... P. wheeleri

25' St ± ascending to erect, generally 10–100 cm; pedicels ± straight; leaflet teeth often > 10

28. Lflets distally 3–7(9)-toothed, glabrous (except margins, veins), glaucous (at least when fresh) ..... P. glaucophylla var. glaucophylla

28' Lflets evenly 7–35-toothed, generally ± hairy, green to white

29. Lflets toothed > 3/4 to midvein; stem and petiole hairs generally appressed

30. Longest petiole generally 5–10 cm; central leaflet 2–6 cm, teeth often narrowest at base, entire; petals 5–8 mm; SNH, Teh, TR, SnJt, SNE ..... P. gracilis var. elmeri

30' Longest petiole generally 10–25 cm; central leaflet 5–9 cm, teeth generally widest at base, often secondarily few-toothed; petals 7–10 mm; MP ..... P. gracilis var. flabelliformis

29' Lflets toothed ± 1/2 or less to midvein; stem and petiole hairs spreading to appressed

31. St (and petioles) shaggy- to cottony-hairy; leaves often subpalmate, leaflets often irregularly deeply lobed as well as toothed ..... P. bruceae (2)

31' St (and petioles) straight-hairy; leaves palmate, leaflets regularly toothed

32. Lf surfaces strongly contrasting, ± white-tomentose abaxially, green, sparsely hairy adaxially; stem hairs generally spreading

33. Glands generally 0 or hidden; nw KR, n NCoRO, CaRH; 120–1100 m ..... P. gracilis var. gracilis

33' Glands generally abundant; n W&I, 3000–3100 m ..... P. pulcherrima

32' Lf surfaces similarly hairy, generally not white tomentose abaxially; stem hairs appressed to spreading

34. Basal leaves generally prominent in flower; stem hairs of 1 length; fruit ± smooth; styles generally 1.5–2 mm, < 50 ..... P. gracilis var. fastigiata

34' Basal leaves generally fallen or withered in flower; stem hairs short- and long-spreading; fruit strong-veined; styles ± 1 mm, generally > 50 ..... P. recta (2)

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].
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