| Potentilla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Potentilla reptans | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Subfamily: | Rosoideae |
| Tribe: | Potentilleae |
| Subtribe: | Potentillinae |
| Genus: | Potentilla L. |
| Type species | |
| Potentilla reptans | |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
List
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Potentilla/ˌpoʊtənˈtɪlə/[1] is agenus containing over 500species ofannual,biennial andperennialherbaceous flowering plants in the rosefamily,Rosaceae.
Potentillas may also be calledcinquefoils in English, but they have also been calledfive fingers andsilverweeds. Some species are calledtormentils, though this is often used specifically forcommon tormentil (P. erecta). Others are referred to asbarren strawberries, which may also refer toP. sterilis in particular, or to the closely relatedWaldsteinia fragarioides. Several other cinquefoils formerly included here are now separated in distinct genera – notably the popular garden shrubP. fruticosa, nowDasiphora fruticosa.
Potentillas are generally found throughout the northern continents of the world (holarctic), though some occur inmontanebiomes of theNew Guinea Highlands.
Typical cinquefoils look most similar tostrawberries, but differ in usually having dry, inedible fruit (hence the name "barren strawberry" for some species). Many cinquefoil species havepalmate leaves. Some species have just three leaflets, while others have fifteen or more leaflets arranged pinnately. The flowers are usually yellow, but may be white, pinkish or red. Theaccessory fruits are usually dry but may be fleshy and strawberry-like, while the actual seeds – each one technically a single fruit – are tinynuts.
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Among theRosaceae, cinquefoils are close relatives ofavens (genusGeum) androses (Rosa), and even closer relatives ofagrimonies (Agrimonia). Yet more closely related toPotentilla arelady's mantles (Alchemilla) andstrawberries (Fragaria).Dryas is a more distantly related genus, long-held beliefs notwithstanding.
Analysis ofinternal transcribed spacerDNA sequence data has yielded valuable information on cinquefoil relationships, supporting previous hypotheses as to theirdescent, but also resulting in a number of changes to thecircumscription ofPotentilla.[2]
The horkelias, mousetails, and mock-strawberries formerly classified in the generaHorkelia,Ivesia, and Duchesnea are now all included in the genusPotentilla. Conversely, theshrubby plants previously included in this genus are now separated in the genusDasiphora, while some distinctive and apparentlyprotocarnivorous[3] herbaceous cinquefoils are placed inDrymocallis. Themarsh cinquefoil is now in the genusComarum, and thethree-toothed cinquefoil makes up themonotypic genusSibbaldiopsis. As already proposed byJohn Hill in the 18th-5century, thesilverweeds of genusArgentina may be distinct, but as the immediatesister genus ofPotentilla, its boundary is still unclear.
Estimates of the number of valid species in this large genus depend on the circumscription used, and over 500 species are currently recognised byPlants of the World Online.
See thelist ofPotentilla species.
"Cinquefoil" in theMiddle English Dictionary is described as "Pentafilon – from GreekPentaphyllon – influenced by foil, a leaf. TheEuropean cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), often used medicinally."[4] The word is derived from Old Frenchcinc, Middle Englishcink and ultimately Latinquinque – all meaning "five" –, andfeuille andfoil/foille which mean "leaf". Formerly this term referred to five-leaved plants in general. Inmedieval times, the word "cinquefoil" was used almost exclusively in England. In France, the genus was calledquintefeuille, first attested in Normandy and Brittany in the 11th-century.
Thescientific namePotentilla seems to have been influenced by a fusion of ancient names for these plants. Common tormentil,P. erecta, was known astormentilla inmedieval Latin, derived from early Spanish – literally "a little torment", meaning pain that, while not debilitating, is unpleasant and persistent (such as a stomach ache, against whichP. erecta was used). The change from initial "t" to "p" seems to have been influenced by terms such aspoterium – Latin for the relatedburnets (genusSanguisorba) – orpropedila and similar words used for the European cinquefoil (P. reptans) in the now-extinctDacian language, as attested in Latinherbals.[citation needed]
In another medieval dictionary the French wordpotentille is defined as a "wild Tansie, a silver weed",[5] a reference to thetansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and similar taxa of the genusTanacetum. The related adjectivepotentiel/potentiells means "strong", "forcible", or "powerful in operation". Its origin is the Frenchpotence ("strong", "powerful", "mighty", or "potent"). The origin of these words is the Latinpotens, with the same meaning.
Cinquefoils grow wild in most cool and cold regions of the world. Most species are herbaceous perennials but a few are erect or creepingshrubs. Some are troublesomeweeds. Other types are grown in gardens.
Cinquefoils are a prominent part of manyecosystems. In the United Kingdom alone, common tormentil (P. erecta) together withpurple moor grass (Molinia caerulea) defines many grassymires, and grows abundantly in the typicaldeciduous forest withdowny birch (Betula pubescens),common wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), andsessile oak (Quercus petraea). In upland pastures oncalcareous soil it typically accompaniescommon bent (Agrostis capillaris),sheep's fescue (Festuca ovina), andwild thyme (Thymus praecox). It is most commonly seen in regions dominated bycommon heather (Calluna vulgaris), including common lowland heaths withbell heather (Erica cinerea), maritime heaths withspring squill (Scilla verna), submontane heaths dominated byred peat moss (Sphagnum capillifolium) andcommon bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), and the mountain heathlands of Scotland withalpine juniper (Juniperus communis ssp.alpina).
The leaves of cinquefoils are eaten by thecaterpillars of many Lepidoptera, notably the grizzled skippers (genusPyrgus), butterflies of theskipper family. Adult butterflies and moths visit cinquefoil flowers; for example, the endangeredKarner blue butterfly (Plebejus melissa samuelis) takesnectar fromcommon cinquefoil (P. simplex). ThePolish cochineal (Porphyrophora polonica), ascale insect once used to produce reddye, lives on cinquefoils and other plants in Eurasia. Some, but not all, cinquefoils areinsect-pollinated, producing nectar that luresbees,hoverflies,muscid flies, butterflies,true bugs, andants.[6]
Onefossil fruitlet of †Potentilla pliocenica has been described from amiddle Miocenestratum of the Fasterholt area nearSilkeborg in CentralJutland,Denmark.[7] Fourfossil fruits of †Potentilla pliocenica have been extracted from bore hole samples of theMiddle Miocene fresh water deposits inNowy Sacz Basin,West Carpathians,Poland.[8]
Some cinquefoils are grown asornamental plants. These are generally high species with bright, showy flowers, such asgolden cinquefoil (P. aurea),ruby cinquefoil (P. atrosanguinea),Nepal cinquefoil (P. nepalensis), andsulphur cinquefoil (P. recta).Horticulturalhybrids such asHopwood's cinquefoil (Potentilla ×hopwoodiana) andtongue cinquefoil (Potentilla ×tonguei) have been bred, and there exists a range ofcultivars. Somedouble-flowered cinquefoils have been bred, starting withVictor Lemoine's 'Gloire de Nancy' in 1854. Other taxa and varieties are useful for more specialized gardening purposes, such asrock gardens orswamps. Among the former is the hardyspring cinquefoil (P. neumanniana), thefloral emblem ofCromartyshire.
Some species are used inherbalism.Common tormentil (P. erecta), for example, has been used as an herbal remedy forinflammation andgastrointestinal disorders.[9] Research continues to determine its safety and usefulness as analternative medicine for such disorders asulcerative colitis.[10]Potentilla discolor[11] andP. multifida[12] areChinese medicinal herbs used to treatdiabetes.
Inheraldry, thecinquefoil emblem orpotentilla signified strength, power, honor, and loyalty. Depiction of the five-petalled flower appears as early as 1033, in the architecture of the church built in the village ofReulle-Vergy inBurgundy, France, two years before the reign ofWilliam the Conqueror. The cinquefoil emblem was used generously in the architecture of numerous churches built in Normandy and Brittany through the 15th century.
From the 11th to 14th century, the wordpotence, related topotentilla, was used mainly in a military context and to describe the condition of the soul.
At the time of William the Conqueror, the potentilla was used as the device ofBardolph of Brittany, who was the master of William'smilitary engineer corps.
