[The Rose Family in Denali National Park and Preserve]

Creeping Glow-wort, Creeping Sibbaldia, Prostrate Sibbaldia, Sibbaldia

Sibbaldia procumbens

Synonym: Potentilla sibbaldia

Creeping sibbaldia as seen on tundra slopes between Eielson Visitors Center and the western base of Green Dome, Denali National Park and Preserve.............June 20, 2012.

Characteristics:

Sibbaldia is a low, perennial herb with spreading to erect stems from 4-8 cm high. It is mat-forming as the rhizomes and stems spread. The herbage is covered with numerous flat-lying hairs. Most of the leaves arise in an alternating pattern from the horizontal stems. Individual leaves are ternate (3 leaflets) and have slender petioles and wedge-shaped leaflets at the base and squared tips with 3-5 teeth. The leaflets range from 1-3 cm long.

The flowering stems are 4-8 cm tall and leafless below the 2-15 flowered cyme (flat-topped cluster). The calyx lobes are 2.5-3.5 mm long and ascending. The 5 petals are oval to spatulate in shape and about half the length of the sepals. The 5 sepals alternate with and are shorter than the petals.

Habitat:

Sibbaldia is found on dry to moist slopes and meadows in subalpine and alpine habitats.

Range:

Sibbaldia is found from the Arctic south to southern California, Utah, Colorado, Quebec, and New Hampshire

Close-ups of the flowers of creeping sibbaldia as seen on tundra slopes between Eielson Visitors Center and the western base of Green Dome, Denali National Park and Preserve.............June 20, 2012.

Leaves and small flower of creeping sibbaldia.

The photo above shows Sibbaldia as seen along Stony Creek in Denali National Park.....................June 27, 2002.

Paul Slichter