BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Potentilla newberryi | Newberry Cinquefoil 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Newberry cinquefoil is a relatively short-lived, low and spreading
perennial or biennial herb [6,13].  The plant is usually prostrate,
although occasionally ascending to erect, and has a grayish villous
appearance [6,15].  Newberry cinquefoil is simple or branched, and has
slender stems spreading outward from 0.3 to 1.6 feet (1-5 dm) in length
[6,13,15].  It seldom grows more than 1 feet (3 dm) in height [6].

This cinquefoil is generally quite leafy.  Leaflets are crowded and
often grow in groups of 7 to 15 (or more) [6].  These leaflets are
divided into a number of oblong, elliptic, linear, or spatulate segments
[6,13].

Flowers of Newberry cinquefoil are usually freely branched and tend to
be numerous [6,15].  Petals range in color from a pale yellow or cream
to white [6,15].  The small fragrant flowers (0.20 to 0.23 inch [5-6 mm]
in length) are often hidden by foliage.  Seeds are borne in small
achenes which are reticulate and brown in color at maturity [6].

Newberry cinquefoil grows from a taproot and has a nonrhizomatous crown
[6].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Chamaephyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Little documentation exists on the reproductive strategies of Newberry
cinquefoil.  Most species within the Potentilla genus produce an
abundance of small seed with good viability [18].  A number of
cinquefoils also reproduce vegetatively through rhizomes, adventitious
rooting, or other means.  Newberry cinquefoil, however, is not
rhizomatous [6], and vegetative reproduction in this species has not
been documented.

Flowers of Newberry cinquefoil are generally produced in abundance p15].
Flowers are reported to be very fragrant and insect pollination is
probably likely.  Seeds are probably dispersed by wind.  Germination
requirements and seedling growth characteristics have not been
determined for this species.


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Newberry cinquefoil typically grows near dry lakes, vernal ponds,
lakeshores, and water holes [6].  Its site preferences suggest an
affinity for at least intermittently moist sites.  Newberry cinquefoil
also grows on sagebrush scrub in juniper woodlands [13] and on low
alkaline plains east of the Cascades [15].  In California its
elevational range is from 4,500 to 6,500 feet (1,373-1,983 m) [13].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
The successional status of Newberry cinquefoil has not been documented.
On some rather specific sites, a number of cinquefoils have been
described as climax dominants [2,12], but on many other types of sites,
these plants are more often thought of as early to mid-seral species
[3,17].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Flowering occurs from April through July throughout its range [6].  In
northern California, Newberry cinquefoil flowers from May to July [13].

Related categories for Species: Potentilla newberryi | Newberry Cinquefoil