Biology:Potentilla reptans
| Potentilla reptans | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Potentilla |
| Species: | P. reptans
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| Binomial name | |
| Potentilla reptans | |
Potentilla reptans, known as the creeping cinquefoil,[1] European cinquefoil or creeping tormentil, is a flowering plant in the family Rosaceae.[2]
Description
A creeping perennial plant which can reach heights of up to 20 cm.[3] Its trailing stems can root at the nodes,[3] which allows the species to reproduce via vegetative reproduction.[4] The palmate leaves are hairless, attached to long stalks and are divided into 5 to 7 leaflets, with small green leaf-like stipules at the base.[3] The plant blooms between June and September in Europe with flowers that are about 7 mm to 11 mm in diameter with heart-shaped yellow petals. Long stalks support these solitary yellow flowers consisting of 5 petals and sepals with a large number of stamens and carpels at the centre. There are also 5 epicalyx segments, giving the appearance of 10 sepals.[3]
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Flower of Potentilla reptans, Wales, UK
Distribution
Native Range
Potentilla reptans has a large native distribution across the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In Europe it can be found in the countries of: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corsica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.[5] In Asia it can be found in: Afghanistan, China, Cyprus, Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.[5] In Africa it can be found in the countries of: Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.[5]
Introduced Range
P. reptans has been introduced outside its native range into various countries across the globe.[6] The species has been widely distributed across North America, where it can be found in the states and territories of: Bermuda, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.[5] It has also been introduced in Canada in the provinces of Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia.[5] In Oceania the species was also introduced into the countries of Australia and New Zealand.[5]
Habitat and ecology
P. reptans grows in neutral soils, where it utilizes both natural and manmade habitats such as grasslands, hedgerows, roadsides and arable land.[7] The species can also grow in grass lawns and flowerbeds as an unwanted weed.[8] The grizzled skipper butterfly (Pyrgus malvae) utilizes P. reptans as a foodplant for its caterpillars.[9]
Medicinal uses
Alcoholic extracts from roots of P. reptans showed a moderate antimicrobial activity against common wound pathogens.[10]
References
- ↑ "Potentilla reptans". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PORE^.
- ↑ "Potentilla reptans L. Creeping Cinquefoil". 2025-02-02. https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000003354.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Sterry, Paul (2006). Collins complete guide to British Wildflowers. HarperCollins Publishers LTD. ISBN 9780007236848.
- ↑ Anten, Niels & Stuefer, Josef & During, Heinjo & Vermeulen, Peter. (2012). Oecologia2013. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2504-8
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Potentilla reptans L.". 2025-02-02. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:324739-2.
- ↑ {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Potentilla reptans | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = 10 January 2018 }}
- ↑ "Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans L.". 2025-02-02. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.94k.
- ↑ Fisher, Sue (2024-07-10). "Complete guide to creeping cinquefoil: Is it a weed?". https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/creeping-cinquefoil/.
- ↑ "Butterfly Conservation". 2025-02-02. https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/grizzled-skipper.
- ↑ "Antimicrobial assays of three native British plants used in Anglo-Saxon medicine for wound healing formulations in 10th century England". J Ethnopharmacol 144 (2): 408–15. November 2012. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.09.031. PMID 23026307. http://roar.uel.ac.uk/1715/3/2012_Watkins_etal_Antimicrobial.pdf.
Wikidata ☰ Q130224 entry
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