sulfur cinquefoil

Potentilla recta L.

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance: Potentilla recta is a perennial herb that can grow to 19.7 in. (50 cm) tall. It is native to Africa, temperate Asia and Europe.
Foliage: A loose rosette of long-petiolate leaves develops first and withers before flowering. Plants can be one or multi-stemmed. Stems are covered with long and short hairs and are unbranched. Cauline leaves are palmately compound (with 5-7 leaflets), stipulate and short petioled to sessile. The central leaflet is 1.2-5.9 in. (3-15 cm) long (longer than the other leaflets).
Flowers: Flowering occurs from May to July, when sulfur yellow flowers develop in open, flat-topped inflorescences at the apex of the stems. Flowers have 5 petals, each 0.2-0.4 in. (0.5-1 cm) long, and 25-30 stamens.
Fruit: Fruits are small, dark brown achenes with pale veins. Seeds often have a webbed or net-like pattern on them.
Ecological Threat: P. recta occurs in pastures, rangelands, along roadsides and other disturbed sites. NOTE: The native graceful or slender cinquefoil, P. gracilis has short hairs that lie flat on the stems and leaves and brighter yellow flowers than the invasive P. recta.

Resources

Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Flower(s)
USDA ARS , USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s)
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Stem(s)
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Stem(s) Stem
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s) Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 254.
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Seed(s)
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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