Potentilla canadensis L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Rosaceae

• Scientific Name

  Potentilla canadensis L.

• Description

  Species Description - Much like no. 1 [Potentilla simplex Michx.], but lower and mostly even more slender, the rhizome very short, praemorse, the stems at first anthesis only 5–15 cm, erect or ascending, soon greatly elongating and prostrate, often rooting at the nodes; lowest fl usually in the axil of the first well developed cauline lf, sometimes even from the axil of a scarcely developed lower cauline lf. Dry woods and fields; P.E.I., N.S., and N.B., s. in the coastal states to Ga., inland to s. Ont., s. O., and e. Tenn. Apr.– June. (P. pumila) Not sharply set off from no. 1, with which it sometimes grows, but forming a distinctive taxon of more limited distribution. Most of what has passed as P. canadensis is properly P. simplex.

• Common Names

  running five-fingers