[Avens: The Genus Geum in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens, Rydberg's Largeleaf Avens

Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum

Synonyms: Geum macrophyllum ssp. perincisum, Geum macrophyllum var. rydbergii, Geum oregonense, Geum perincisum, Geum perincisum var. intermedium

Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens, Rydberg's Largeleaf Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum (Synonyms: Geum macrophyllum ssp. perincisum, Geum macrophyllum var. rydbergii, Geum oregonense, Geum perincisum, Geum perincisum var. intermedium)

The photo above shows a close-up of the upper leaf surface of large-leaf avens as seen at Misery Campground in the Umatilla N.F. of southeastern Washington........July 7, 2008.
Characteristics:

Large-leaf avens is a perennial with several basal leaves in a rosette and erect or ascending stems with several leaflets. The stems may rise from 30-70 cm in height. The leaves are compound pinnate or cleft into the middle vein with 9-23 irregularly shaped leaflets or lobes, the largest being the terminal one. The basal leaves may be as much as 30 cm long and the margins are toothed. 2-5 leaves may be found on the stems. These are compound ternate (3 leaflets) with irregularly toothed margins.

The inflorescence is an asymmetrical cyme of several flowers. The 5 green sepals are reflexed downward, each approximately 4-5 mm long. The 5 petals are a medium yellow (not shiny as with buttercups)and 4-6 mm long. The green, maturing fruits look like rounded pincushions with many "pins" poking out.

Varieties of Large-leaf Avens:

var. macrophyllum -

var. perincisum -

Habitat:

Large-leaf avens is found in moist woods or meadows, or along streams from the sea level to subalpine habitats.

Range:

Large-leaf avens may be found from Alaska south to Baja California and Mexico, and east in Canada to Nova Scotia.

Leaf of Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens, Rydberg's Largeleaf Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum (Synonyms: Geum macrophyllum ssp. perincisum, Geum macrophyllum var. rydbergii, Geum oregonense, Geum perincisum, Geum perincisum var. intermedium)

The photo above shows a close-up of the upper leaf surface of large-leaf avens as seen at Misery Campground in the Umatilla N.F. of southeastern Washington........July 7, 2008, This variety, the variety perincisum is more common than the variety macrophyllum on the east side of the Cascade Mts. The latter variety has leaves that are less deeply cleft and lobes that are more rounded.
Paul Slichter