Common cinquefoil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common cinquefoil |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Potentilla
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| Species: |
simplex
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Potentilla simplex, also known as common cinquefoil, is a small plant. It is a type of herb that lives for many years. This plant belongs to the Rosaceae family, which is the same family as roses! You can find it growing naturally across eastern North America. It stretches from parts of Canada like Ontario and Quebec, all the way south to Texas and Florida in the United States.
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What is Common Cinquefoil?
Common cinquefoil is a well-known plant. Its stems often lie flat on the ground. These stems can even grow roots where they touch the soil. This helps the plant spread out.
How to Spot It
The plant has bright yellow flowers. Each flower has five petals. These petals are usually about 4 to 10 millimeters long. The leaves are also easy to spot. They have five parts, like fingers on a hand. These leaves grow from special stems called "runners" or "stolons." The flowers bloom from March to June. The plant then produces seeds from April to July.
Where Does It Grow?
You can often find common cinquefoil in many places. It grows in forests, open fields, and areas where the ground has been disturbed. This means places like roadsides or empty lots. Sometimes, if you see a lot of common cinquefoil, it can mean the soil isn't very rich in nutrients.
Who Visits This Plant?
Many different insects help pollinate common cinquefoil. These include various types of bees, like mason bees and small carpenter bees. Flies, such as syrphid flies, also visit the flowers. Wasps and butterflies are less common visitors. Some animals enjoy eating the plant's leaves. Rabbits and groundhogs are known to munch on its foliage.
Can You Eat It?
Yes, you can eat the young shoots and leaves of common cinquefoil! People sometimes use them in salads. They can also be cooked like other leafy greens.
