[Cinquefoils: The Genera Comarum, Dasiphora, Drymocallis and Potentilla East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil

Potentilla versicolor

Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis

Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis)

The Wallowa Mountains form of varying cinquefoil as seen along the East Lostine River Trail about 1-300 meters north of Lost Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness.........August 4, 2016.

Close-up of a flower of Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Basal leaf of Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Underside of the sepals of Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis)

Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Basal leaves of Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis)

Basal leaves of Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Basal leaves of Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina Sheep Cinquefoil: Potentilla ovina var. ovina (Synonyms: Potentilla bipinnatifida var. glabrata, Potentilla diversifolia var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla monidensis, Potentilla pensylvanica var. glabrata, Potentilla wyomingensis)

The Wallowa Mountains form of varying cinquefoil as seen along the East Lostine River Trail about 1-300 meters north of Lost Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness.........August 4, 2016.
Flower of Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis)Photo at right is of the flower of of Potentilla versicolor at Kiger Gorge Viewpoint, Steens Mt.......June 24, 2000.
Characteristics:

Varying cinquefoil is a low, ascending perennial with pinnately compound, greenish leaves. The herbage may be sparsely haired to nearly glabrous. The 12 or more leaflets are deeply and unevenly cut intl linear to oblong lobes.

The inflorescence is an open cyme of 2- 7 yellow flowers. The calyx or hypanthium is bowl-shaped and rarely more than 1 cm in diameter. Each of the 5 petals is obcordate and roughly 1-2 cm longer than the sepals. There are usually 20 stamens and numerous pistils.

Varying cinquefoil is similar to Brewer's cinquefoil (Potentilla breweri) with which it hybridizes, but the latter plant is grayish white and silky villous in herbage, and generally has 11 or fewer, divergent leaflets.

Habitat:

Varying cinquefoil may be found in rocky, moist meadows, open ridges, and barren slopes from mid-altitudes to above timberline.

Range:

Varying cinquefoil may be found at high elevation in souh-central Oregon and possibly in the Wallowa Mts. of northeast Oregon.

Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis)

Close-up of a flower of Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis)

Close-up photos of sheep cinquefoil as seen along the South Loop Road about one mile downhill and west of the East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain, Harney County, Oregon........September 2, 2011.

Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis)

Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis)

Sheep cinquefoil as seen on rocky outcrops along the South Loop Road about one mile downhill to the west of the East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain.........July 9, 2014.

Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis) - Leaves of Steen's Mountain Cinquefoil, Varying Cinquefoil: Potentilla versicolor (Synonyms: Potentilla dissecta var. decurrens, Potentilla klamathensis, Potentilla millefolia, Potentilla millefolia var. klamathensis, Potentilla nelsoniana, Potentilla ovina, Potentilla ovina var. decurrens, Potentilla ovina var. ovina, Potentilla ovina var. pinnatisecta, Potentilla wyomingensis)

Steen's Mountain cinquefoil as seen at the Kiger Gorge Viewpoint, Steens Mt.......June 24, 2000. The similar Brewer's cinquefoil (Potentilla breweri / Potentilla drummondii var. breweri) may be found at the same locations, but tends to be grayer than the plants seen here. Hybrids are often seen between the two species where they do occur together.
Paul Slichter