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

Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens

Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum

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

Flower of Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum (Synonyms: Geum macrophyllum ssp. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum ssp. perincisum Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum, Geum macrophyllum var. rydbergii, Geum oregonense, Geum perincisum, Geum perincisum var. intermedium) - Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum (Synonyms: Geum macrophyllum ssp. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum ssp. perincisum Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum, Geum macrophyllum var. rydbergii, Geum oregonense, Geum perincisum, Geum perincisum var. intermedium)

A close-up view of the flower of large-leaved avens as seenat left in Gresham, OR.........April 5, 2009. The photo at right shows large-leaved avens in bloom along the Springwater Trail several dozen yards east of Regner Road, Gresham, OR.....May 15, 2023.
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.

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.

Sideview of the flower of Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum (Synonyms: Geum macrophyllum ssp. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum ssp. perincisum Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum, Geum macrophyllum var. rydbergii, Geum oregonense, Geum perincisum, Geum perincisum var. intermedium) - Basal leaf of Bigleaf Avens, Largeleaf Avens, Large-leaf Avens, Large-leaved Avens: Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum (Synonyms: Geum macrophyllum ssp. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum ssp. perincisum Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum, Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum, Geum macrophyllum var. rydbergii, Geum oregonense, Geum perincisum, Geum perincisum var. intermedium)

A close-up sideview of the flower (left) of large-leaved avens as seen in Gresham, OR..........April 5, 2009. Note the reflexed sepals. The photo at right shows a basal leaf with the rounded terminal leaf which is only shallowly lobed if that. Photographed along the Neahkanie Mountain South Trail, northwestern Tillamook County...........April 6, 2016.
Paul Slichter