Potentilla nivea, June 16, 2021
P. nivea, Mountain Boy, 12,600’, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific names
Snow cinquefoil, Potentilla nivea
Family
Rose, Rosaceae
Location
Summit, 12,100’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known facts
Our most common alpine cinquefoil, its three-parted leaves are densely white/hairy below, greener on top (but still hairy). There is substantial confusion/flux around a number of potentillas, including this one (does it include P. uniflora, for example?), and they do tend to hybridize. But for now most experts seem to agree this cinquefoil is properly classified. For now, anyway.