Potentilla nivea, June 13, 2023
Front side of leaf
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: see photos to left and below). There is substantial confusion/flux around a number of potentillas, including this one (does it include P. uniflora, for example? or is the difference that it lacks the cottony hairs on snow cinquefoil’s petioles?), and they do tend to hybridize. But for now most experts seem to agree this cinquefoil is properly classified. For now, anyway . . .
Back side of leaf