''Sibbaldiopsis'' is a genus in the plant family

Rosaceae Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are ''Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...

. This genus only contains a single species: ''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'', formerly ''

Potentilla ''Potentilla'' is a genus containing over 300Guillén, A., et al. (2005)Reproductive biology of the Iberian species of ''Potentilla'' L. (Rosaceae).''Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid'' 1(62) 9–21. species of annual, biennial and perenni ...

tridentata''. Commonly, its names include three-toothed cinquefoil, shrubby fivefingers, and wineleaf. Systemic phylogenetic work has placed ''S. tridentata'' within ''Sibbaldia'' as ''Sibbaldia retusa''.

History

''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'' was first described by

William Aiton William Aiton (17312 February 1793) was a Scotland, Scottish botanist. Aiton was born near Hamilton, Scotland, Hamilton. Having been regularly trained to the profession of a gardener, he travelled to London in 1754, and became assistant to Phi ...

, but later corrected by

Per Axel Rydberg Per Axel Rydberg (July 6, 1860 – July 25, 1931) was a Swedish-born, American botanist who was the first curator of the New York Botanical Garden Herbarium. Biography Per Axel Rydberg was born in Odh, Västergötland, Sweden and emigrated to t ...

. The species had been called ''Potentilla tridentata'', but because of genetic analysis, it was discovered that the plant was closer to the boreal species ''

Sibbaldia procumbens ''Sibbaldia procumbens'' (or creeping sibbaldia) is a species of flowering plant of the genus ''Sibbaldia'' in the rose family. It has an Arctic–alpine distribution; it can be found throughout the Arctic, as well as the at higher elevations in ...

'', and was placed in its own genus. The genus name ''Sibbaldiopsis'' comes from ''Sibbaldia'' and the suffix , meaning "resembling". ''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'' has sometimes been cited as ''Potentilla retusa'', as it is much older, despite having yellow flowers. In addition, poor specimens of ''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'' resemble ''Sibbaldia procumbens'' more than ''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'' itself.

Habitat

''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'' prefers dry and acidic soil, usually on rocky or gravelly shores that have access to a lot of sun. It is often found on shale outcrops. The species is located all over the central to eastern American states, with disjunct populations extending down the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...

. The species also lives in the Canadian provinces east of and including

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, as well as Greenland. In

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

, the species is very common in the center of the Annapolis Valley and around cliffs or rocky outcrops. The southernmost known populations are located in Georgia and

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

, and occupy high-elevation rock outcrops and grassy balds. ''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'' is listed as endangered in 5 US states.

Characteristics

''Sibbaldiopsis tridentata'' is a short evergreen perennial plant, growing up to ten inches. Its leaves are compound and trifoliate, usually growing at the base in an alternating pattern, each leaflet growing up to an inch-and-a-half in length and a half-an-inch across. The leaflets are oblanceolate with a truncated tip having three teeth. The leaves are glossy and evergreen. They turn deep red in fall if the plants are grown in sun. Its branches are herbaceous and pubescent, but its roots are woody. Its flowers are small and white, radial, and arranged in a compound bracteate cyme, having five sepals and five petals with several stamens and a few pistils. The individual flowers resemble flowers from the genus ''

''. Its blooming period lasts two to three months, between June to August. Eventually, the triangular sepals fold up and tiny, hairy brown seeds develop inside them.

References

Sources

* * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q145750 Potentilleae Monotypic Rosaceae genera Flora of the United States Flora of Canada