P O T E N T I L L A alba.
TVJiite Cinquefoil.
ICOSANDRIA Polygynia.
Gen. ChAr. Cal. in 10 segments. Petals 5. Seeds
roundish, naked, generally wrinkled, affixed to a
small dry receptacle.
Spec. Char. Leaves in fives; silky underneath; tipped
with conniving serratures. Stems thread-shaped,
procumbent. Receptacle very hairy.
Syn. Potentilla alba. Linn. Sp. PI. 713. Sm. FI. Brit.
551. Huds. 224. With. 474. Hull. 112.
Quinquefolium sylvaticum majus flore albo. Ger. em.
989.
H udson relates that this elegant alpine plant has been
found in Wales by a Mr. Haviland. On this authority alone
its place in the F l o r a B r i t a n n i c a depends, nor could we ever
obtain any other than a garden specimen. It flowers early in
the summer, continuing for some time.
The root is black, fibrous, and perennial. Stems procumbent,
filiform, branched, hairy. The radical leaves stand on
long hairy footstalks, and each consists of three large and 2
small elliptical leaflets, entire except at their points, where a
few close serratures are discernible. The upper surface is
green and smooth; the under white and silky. The stem-
leaves are temate only, with a short stalk. A pair of oblong
stipulae is attached to the base of each footstalk. The flower-
stalks are few, long, slender, and single-flowered. Segments
of the calyx pointed and silky. Petals pure white, notched.
Seeds intermixed with long dense bristles.
, This P o t e n t i l l a is easily cultivated, and deserves a place on
artificial rock-Work, or dry borders.