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silver-leaved cinquefoil

Potentilla argentea
Rosaceae

Five-parted, deeply lobed leaves mid-May
Flowers late May; leaf with silvery underside
Ant visitors
Erect plant in flower early June
Many unopened buds late June
Small patches sprawl across lawn

So called because of a whitish-silvery underside that contrasts with the otherwise dark green leaf, silver-leaved cinquefoil is an herbaceous member of the rose family.  It is native to Europe, Asia Minor and Siberia where it naturally grows on rocky precipices.  However, human activities have enabled its spread to similarly harsh anthropogenic settings such as roadsides, open sandy areas, dry yards, waste ground, and railway embankments.

There is not much information on when or how the silver-leaved cinquefoil was introduced to North America but there is a herbarium specimen dated 1866 from Michigan.  It appears quite flexible in its growth form.  In Finland, where it is native, it can grow to a height of 20 inches.

At Salter Grove, it mostly occurs as small patches on lawns around the parking lot with occasional upright plants missed by the mower.

Its yellow flowers are conspicuous but very short-lived.  They open in the morning and by early afternoon all petals will have fallen off.  However, each plant produces numerous buds and a new crop of cheerful blooms appears each morning to brighten the lawn from late spring to early summer.

Its scientific name Potentilla argentea is noteworthy.  The name of its genus Potentilla means "the little powerful one" and presumably refers to the medicinal properties it is reputed to have.  The leaves are astringent and are used to treat minor wounds because their high tannin content aid in the clotting of blood.  The species name argentea means silvery and refers to the underside of the leaf that appears silvery because of a layer of fine white hairs.