''Geum'' × ''catlingii'', or Catling's avens, is a

plant Plants are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic eukaryotes of the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all curr ...

in the rose 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), '' Sorbu ...

. It is known from eastern Canada, where it arises from natural hybridization between the native ''G. canadense''

Jacq. Nikolaus Joseph Freiherr von Jacquin (16 February 172726 October 1817) was a scientist who studied medicine, chemistry and botany. Biography Born in Leiden in the Netherlands, he studied medicine at Leiden University, then moved first to P ...

and the introduced ''G. urbanum'' L. It is named after Paul M. Catling, the botanist who first observed the hybrid. Geum xcatlingii comparison

Description

''Geum'' ×''catlingii'' is a hybrid

taxon In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular n ...

, and as such exhibits variable morphology. However, several characters in combination help distinguish it from other ''

Geum ''Geum'' , (Latinized Greek for "taste" referencing the roots of the plant) commonly called avens, is a genus of about 50 species of rhizomatous perennial herbaceous plants in the rose family and its subfamily Rosoideae, widespread across Euro ...

'' species: *

Hybrid vigor Heterosis, hybrid vigor, or outbreeding enhancement is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring. An offspring is heterotic if its traits are enhanced as a result of mixing the genetic contributions o ...

- hybrids tend to be larger than parents *Petals are creamy-yellow - intermediate between dark yellow (''G. urbanum'') and white (''G. canadense''). *Intermediate stem bract size *Highly

sterile Sterile or sterility may refer to: *Asepsis, a state of being free from biological contaminants * Sterile (archaeology), a sediment deposit which contains no evidence of human activity *Sterilization (microbiology), any process that eliminates or ...

ovaries It has been noted to bloom throughout the summer, after other species have shed their petals.

References

catlingii Hybrid plants Flora of North America Plants described in 1986 {{rosoideae-stub