Potentilla L.
Fls solitary to cymose; calyx 5-lobed, with 5 alt. bractlets; petals 5, us. yellow; stamens ∞, carpels us. ∞, receptacle dry, us. pubescent to pilose; achenes surrounded by persistent calyx, styles us. deciduous. Herbs or shrubs with compound lvs and adnate stipules. About 300 spp., mainly northern hemisphere. The N.Z. sp. is perhaps endemic, but is very closely related to the widespread P. anserina.
