Potentilla arenosa
bluff cinquefoil

Alaska Wildflowers | Yellow

Potentilla arenosa
bluff cinquefoil

Common Names

bluff cinquefoil
potentille des escarpements

Synonyms

Potentilla nivea var. arenosa

Subspecies

Potentilla arenosa subsp. arenosa
Potentilla arenosa subsp. chamissonis (Chamisso’s cinquefoil – not present in Alaska)

Genus: Potentilla (cinquefoil)
Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)
Order: Rosales
taxonomic heirarchy

Etymology

The genus name Potentilla is derived from the Latin word potens, meaning “powerful” or “potent,” combined with the diminutive suffix -illa. This nomenclature likely refers to the reputed medicinal properties of plants within this genus, suggesting “a little powerful one.” The species epithet arenosa originates from the Latin word arenosus, meaning “sandy.” This descriptor indicates the plant’s typical habitat in sandy soils.

The term “cinquefoil” comes from the Old French cincfoille, which is derived from the Latin quinquefolium—a combination of quinque (“five”) and folium (“leaf”). This name refers to the plant’s characteristic five-part leaves. The addition of “bluff” in the common name likely refers to the plant’s natural occurrence on bluffs or steep riverbanks, highlighting its typical growing environment.

Duration – Growth Habit

Perennial – forb/herb

Identification and Information

There is significant taxonomic complexity and morphological similarity among several closely related species within this group, notably Potentilla arenosa, Potentilla nivea, Potentilla hookeriana, Potentilla chamissonis, Potentilla kuznetzovii, and Potentilla nipharga (see discussion in the Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago). Due to this complexity, identification can be challenging. My identifications are based primarily on morphological characteristics outlined in regional floras; however, given the ongoing taxonomic debate and similarity among these taxa, these identifications should be considered tentative rather than definitive.

Vegetative Morphology:

Potentilla arenosa, commonly known as bluff cinquefoil, is a perennial herb in the rose family (Rosaceae). Plants are 5–35 cm tall, forming small, tufted clumps. It grows from a thick, branched caudex without persistent leaf sheaths that wither but remain attached (marcescent). Stems are erect to ascending, typically 8–25 cm, usually 3–5 times longer than basal leaves. Basal leaves measure 1.5–12 cm, with petioles 1–7 cm long covered in stiff, verrucose (wart-like), spreading to ascending hairs. Leaflets are separate to somewhat overlapping, obovate, typically 1–3.5 cm long by 0.5–2 cm wide, usually distinctly petiolulate, with cuneate bases. Leaf margins are revolute, deeply incised approximately half the distance to the midvein, with typically 3–4 teeth per side. The upper leaf surface is green and sparsely to abundantly hairy, while the lower surface is densely white to gray, covered in long hairs and dense, cottony-crisped hairs. Cauline leaves, if present, number 1–2.

Reproductive Morphology:

The inflorescence consists of 1–7 (occasionally up to 15) flowers. Pedicels range from 1.5–5 cm in flower, elongating to 6–10 cm in fruit. Flowers have linear-lanceolate to elliptic epicalyx bractlets, which are small leafy structures positioned below the sepals, measuring 2–7 mm long, narrower, and shorter than sepals. Sepals number five, measuring 3–8 mm, acute at the apex, green, and covered with pilose or silky hairs. Petals are bright yellow, obovate, 4–10 mm long and 4–9 mm wide, typically slightly longer than the sepals, with distinctly notched or undulating margins. Stamens number 15–30 with glabrous filaments and small (about 0.4 mm), yellow anthers. The ovary is superior with 25–35 carpels. Styles are conic-columnar, strongly swollen and papillate at the base, measuring 1–1.5 mm. Fruits are aggregates of achenes, sessile, ovoid, approximately 1.1 mm, glabrous, green or straw-colored at maturity, and indehiscent.

Uses

For information only (typically historical) – I take no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plant.

No traditional, medicinal, or culinary uses were found.

Distribution and Habitat

Map data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and NatureServe Explorer.

Potentilla arenosa has a broad circumpolar distribution, occurring across northern North America, including Alaska, most of Canada, and Greenland. Its Eurasian range extends through Svalbard, northern Norway, and Siberia. The species is common throughout arctic, alpine, and boreal regions, typically in sandy or gravelly areas.

It thrives in a variety of dry, moderately well-drained habitats. Common habitats include river terraces, tundra, rocky slopes, cliffs, dry meadows, and gravelly or sandy soils. It has a strong preference for calcareous (calcium-rich) substrates and often grows in areas enriched by bird droppings (nitrophilous habitats).

Classification

References and Further Reading

Guidebook

Pratt, V. E. (1989). Field Guide to Alaskan Wildflowers: Commonly Seen Along Highways and Byways (p. 57). Alaskakrafts, inc.

Johnson, D., Kershaw, L., & MacKinnon, A. (2020). Plants of the Western Forest: Alaska to Minnesota Boreal and Aspen Parkland (3rd ed., p. 71). Partners Publishing. ISBN 978-1772130591.

Brandenburg, D. M. 2010. National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America. Sterling Publishing. (p. 193)

Classification and Taxonomy

Canadensys. (2024). Potentilla arenosa (Turcz.) Juz. Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN). Retrieved March 11, 2025, from https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/taxon/8825

Integrated Taxonomic Information System. (2024). Potentilla arenosa (Turcz.) Juz. Retrieved March 11, 2024, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=565922#null

Global Biodiversity. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/species/3024660

Etymology

Missouri Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Common cinquefoil. Retrieved from https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/common-cinquefoil

Charters, Michael L. (n.d.). California Plant Names: Latin and Greek Meanings and Derivations – arenosus. Retrieved from http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/pageA.html

Gledhill, David. (2008). The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press.

Uses

none

Map and Distribution

NatureServe Explorer. (2024). Potentilla arenosa. Retrieved March 11, 2025, from https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.959427/Potentilla_arenosa

Global Biodiversity Information Facility. (2024). Potentilla arenosa (Turcz.) Juz. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Retrieved March 11, 2024, from https://www.gbif.org/species/5363587

Description and Information

Hultén, E. (1968). Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories: A Manual of the Vascular Plants (1st ed.) (pg. 442). Retrieved March 11, 2025. Stanford University Press.

Potentilla arenosa (Turcz.) Juz. (2007). In Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. NRC Research Press, National Research Council of Canada. Retrieved March 11, 2025, from https://nature.ca/aaflora/data/www/ropoho.htm

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (n.d.). Potentilla hookeriana Lehm. (Bluff Cinquefoil). Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Retrieved March 11, 2024, from https://nature.ca/aaflora/data/www/ropoho.htm

Flora of North America Editorial Committee. (2024). Potentilla arenosa (Turcz.) Juz. Flora of North America. Retrieved March 11, 2025, from http://dev.floranorthamerica.org/Potentilla_arenosa