HPIPM:Sulfur cinquefoil

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Rosanae
Order	Rosales
Family	Rosaceae
Genus	Potentilla

Scientific Name

Potentilla recta

Common Name

sulfur cinquefoil

Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

Author: Jim Jacobs, Plant Materials/Invasive Species Specialist, USDA-Montana NRCS.

Adapted from the USDA NRCS Montana Invasive Species Technical Note “Ecology and Management of Sulfur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta L.)”

Identification and Life Cycle

Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) is a perennial herb in the rose family (Rosaceae). One to several flowering stems grow from a woody root caudex and are branched at the inflorescence, with each branch terminating in a pale- to sulfur-yellow flower 1/2 to 1 inch across. Flowers have five small, green, linear bracts, five green sepals, and five yellow petals. The seeds are small (about 0.04 inches), ovate, have narrow-winged margins, are dark brown with lighter, prominent, branched ridges that form a net-like pattern. Basal and stem leaves are palmately compound with five to seven coarsely-toothed, leaflets that are longer than they are wide with nearly parallel margins, 1.2 to 1.5 inches long. Basal leaves have long petioles. Stem leaves are smaller and have shorter petioles than the basal leaves. The stem is erect and grows from 1 to 2 feet tall. It has a dark brown tap root and branched spreading lateral roots that support a stout, woody, persistent stem base. All the aboveground parts of the plant have relatively sparse, long, coarse hairs.

Habitats

Sulphur cinquefoil occurs in a variety of habitats including conifer forest, grassland, shrubland, and seasonal wetlands. It was found on all soil textures except silt. It invades native rangeland with low disturbance, shrubland, and open-forested sites. It is commonly found on roadsides, clearcuts, abandoned farm fields, waste places, and other disturbed areas. Sulphur cinquefoil is more common and stem densities are greater on open sites, and it does not tolerate shading from a closed canopy forest.

Impacts

Sulphur cinquefoil is one of the last plants selected by grazing animals, and it reduces carrying capacity for livestock and ungulate wildlife in rangelands. On infested hay meadows, sulphur cinquefoil reduces the quality of hay.

Biology and Ecology

New plants grow from caudex buds in early spring with basal leaves that have been described as a semi-rosette. Floral stems begin growth in May and flowering begins in June. On older plants, the shoots emerge from the edges of the caudex often forming a circle of upright stems. Flowering continues as long as soil moisture is adequate to support growth; however, plants dry rapidly as soil moisture is depleted. Seeds develop in July and disperse in late July and August. Most seeds are dispersed within two feet of the parent plant in the direction of the prevailing winds. After fall precipitation, sulphur cinquefoil will re-grow basal leaves that last until a killing frost. Individual plants can produce up to 6,000 seeds. Seeds are capable of germinating in the fall of the same year they are produced. Germination of seeds has been reported as low as 20% and as high as 70%. Germination is stimulated by exposure to light.

Management Approaches

On small sulphur cinquefoil populations in the early phase of invasion, aggressive herbicidal or hand control should be combined with cultural practices that strengthen the competitiveness of the plant community. In areas with large-scale infestations in the later phases of invasion, first priority should be given to herbicide application to eradicate small satellite populations and to reduce spread along the invasion front of the parent population. Second priority should be given to reducing the parent population using herbicide management and re-vegetation with competitive plants where needed.

Biological Control

Currently, there are no biological control agents available for management of sulphur cinquefoil and availability of agents in the near future is not likely because of the many close native and agricultural taxonomic relatives.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Plant competition reduces the invasiveness of sulphur cinquefoil and increases the effectiveness of herbicide applications. Therefore, practices that increase the competitiveness of desirable plant species and communities such as conservation crop rotation, conservation cover, and critical area planting (for example, after a wildfire) will make the environment less hospitable for sulphur cinquefoil to survive and spread. Livestock avoid grazing sulfur cinquefoil. Hand pulling, grubbing, and hoeing may be practical on small populations of sulphur cinquefoil and, if applied persistently, can reduce populations. Pulling and grubbing must remove the caudex to be effective. Mowing, if applied before bloom, will reduce flowering and seed production but will not reduce populations. Mowing after flowering when seeds have set may increase the spread of sulfur cinquefoil. Prescribed fire does not appear to control the plant.

Chemical Control

Herbicides will temporarily suppress sulphur cinquefoil, but repeated applications are necessary to achieve long-term control.

Examples of herbicides that can be used to manage sulphur cinquefoil

Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=Potentilla%20recta