Biorepository Data Portal

General: Perennial, stoloniferous, the stolons reaching as much as 50 cm long, rooting at the nodes. Leaves: Forming basal tufts, odd-pinnate, with 15-25 leaflets, oblanceolate to obovate, 1-3.5 cm long, green and sparsely appressed-villous to nearly glabrous above, white-tomentose below, margins toothed to lobed; stipules prominent; petioles sparsely to densely pubescent. Flowers: Inflorescence an elongate, spike-like raceme; flowers numerous, each subtended by a bract; hypanthium obconic, the throat beset with hooked bristles; sepals 5, triangular, 1-2 mm long; petals 5, about 5 mm long, yellow; flowers July-September. Fruits: Achene, numerous, ovoid, about 2 mm long, light brown. Ecology: Meadows, lakeshores, streambanks, wet habitats; 1100-2700 m (3500-9000 ft); Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Navajo, and Yavapai counties; Canada, eastern, north-central, western, and southwestern U.S. Notes: This species looks extremely similar to a Potentilla and was previously included in that genus, but can be distinguished by its flowers borne solitary at the nodes, and its quite long (3-15 cm) pedicels. Silverweed cinquefoil has been cultivated for its edible tubers, which are said to be similar to sweet potatoes. Editor: Springer et al. 2008