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Smith, R.W.

Comarum palustre

Comarum palustre L.

Purple Cinquefoil, Purple Marshlocks, Marsh Cinquefoil

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s): Potentilla palustris, Potentilla palustris var. parvifolia, Potentilla palustris var. villosa

USDA Symbol: COPA28

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (N), SPM (N)

Comarum palustre has tiny, dark red petals between larger, dull red sepals. It grows in bogs across North America, extending south in the West to northern California and Wyoming.

There are about 100 genera and 3,000 species in the worldwide Rosaceae family. Apples, pears, quinces, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, loquats, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries are important fruits. Roses, Cotoneaster, Firethorn, Mountain Ash, Spirea, and Hawthorns are common ornamentals.

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Achene , Aggregate
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Fruit: Aggregated achenes.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CO , CT , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OR , PA , UT , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Comarum palustre in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Comarum palustre in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Comarum palustre

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-09
Research By: TWC Staff

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