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Marsh Cinquefoil - Comarum palustre
Other Names:
Potentilla palustris
Native Species
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S4
(see State Rank Reason below)
C-value:
7
Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:
External Links
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Fairly common in montane to subalpine wetlands and fens, primarily in northwest Montana
General Description
Rhizomatous perennial. Stems ascending, prostrate, or floating, reddish, glabrous to sparsely glandular, 20–50 cm. Leaves sheathing-petiolate, pinnately divided into 3 to 7 leaflets; leaflets oblong, sparsely hairy, glaucous beneath, dentate, 2–7 cm long. Inflorescence a leafy, few- to several-flowered, glandular-pubescent cyme. Flowers perfect, perigynous; hypanthium saucer-shaped; sepals ovate, purple, 7–15 mm long, alternate with narrower and shorter bracteoles; petals dark red, 3–7 mm long; stamens usually 20 or more; styles numerous. Fruit a cluster of ovoid achenes, each ca. 1.5 mm long enveloped by the calyx; styles deciduous at maturity, attached laterally (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Diagnostic Characteristics
Distinguished from the genus Potentilla in Montana by the reddish flowers and wetland habitat.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
Circumboreal south to CA, WY and OH (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 286
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
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Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Fens and wetland in the montane and subalpine
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?
Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
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