20.) POTENTILLA to AGRIMONIA

POTENTILLA L.

Potentilla anserina L. (ssp. anserina) (Silverweed) / Grassland Common A common species of disturbed grassy places; particularly on heavier soils which become inundated in winter. The name Wild Tansy is given as an alternative in Murray (1896) and Goose-grass by Riddelsdell (1948).
Potentilla indica (Jacks.) Wolf (Duchesnea indica (Jacks.) Focke) (Yellow-flowered Strawberry) General Scarce A rare introduction with most records coming from Bristol - where it appears to have increased and is now well-established in some places; particularly in the Clifton area. It was first recorded at Stoke Bishop in 1986 by I.F. Gravestock.
Potentilla argentea L. (Hoary Cinquefoil) 1941 /- Grassland Extinct Extinct as a native but recorded recently in a newly made 'wildflower' meadow (along with many other things which should not be there) at College Green, Bristol in 2023 by R.D. Randall and D. Peters. Historically it used to occur in short dry turf east of Bristol - "In one spot near Downend, 1881; Dr. Hassé. It was not until June, 1898 that I discovered what is probably the station reported to me by the late Dr. Hassé. A few fine plants grow on about a sq. yard of sandstone rock at a spot that need not be more closely described. In 1900 Miss Roper discovered a new locality about a quarter of a mile from the station just mentioned, in the thin turf of a low sandstone ridge. I saw there in 1906 two patches a few feet apart, with about a dozen small plants in one and half as many in the other. Abundant on some low hills - an elevation of trap rock known as 'The Rockies' - between Woodford Bridge and Falfield." (White, 1912). It was also recorded as a "Casual near Englishcombe; Miss Roper" (White, 1912) and found on a siding at Portishead Station in 1912 by J.W. White after the publication of his flora.

[Records to include: 1914 near Winterbourne Down by C.I. Sandwith, Cadbury Camp, Clevedon in 1920 by C.I. Sandwith, Weston-in-Gordano in 2002 by P. Millman, just to the south of the region in 2020s by [BSBI record]. Additionally mentioned by Riddelsdell (1948), occurring "Near Damery, Haines. Longwell Green, Hanham...Mangotsfield, Roper. Kingswood, adventive...Avonmouth Docks, 1933...Stone, C.".]

Potentilla recta L. (Sulphur Cinquefoil) General Very Rare A very rare introduction; sometimes grown in gardens where it occasionally escapes. Recently recorded on a bank beside the River Avon footpath at Hanham in 2007 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen and still present when visited in 2020s by ?; at Worlebury in 2010s by ?; Congresbury in 2010s by ?; Yate in 2010s by ?; and Hengrove in 2020s by ? [BSBI records].
ssp. recta General Very Rare The nominate plant to which most records refer.
ssp. obscura (Willd.) Arcang. General Very Rare One self-sown plant was recorded to the side of a gateway on Cotham Brow, Bristol in 2024 by D. Peters. It differs from the typical plant in being much more robust and the basal leaves are broader and blunter and the flowers are a solid bright (not sulphurous) yellow. It appears to be the origin of the cultivar 'Warrenii'.
Potentilla intermedia L. (P. argentea × P. norvegica = P. × intermedia L.) (Russian Cinquefoil) General Extinct - [Sandwith, 1932] Was recorded as an adventive at Avonmouth Docks from 1931-32 by C.I. Sandwith, H.J. Gibbons and I.W. Evans and at Wee Lane [now Glenfrome Road] in 1932 by H.J. Gibbons.

[Check records on BSBI]

Potentilla norvegica L. (Ternate-leaved Cinquefoil) 1977 General Extinct Formerly a rare alien. Historical records include: "Watercress Farm, Baptist Mills (fowl run), 1911; Miss Roper. With other aliens by Mangotsfield Station, Sept. 1896...S.T. Dunn. On the G.W.R. near Keynsham, 1900. A garden weed at Sidcot, 1900; and at Saltford, 1902. Waste ground near Portishead Dock, 1903-7." (White, 1932). Also recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith (who stated it to be common about Bristol at the time) and at St. Philip's Marsh by E.S. Todd (Riddelsdell, 1948). White (1912) also announced the plant as "one of those, however, that we are likely to have always with us" - a statement which has not stood the test of time as it was last recorded at Bedminster Down Tip in 1977 by A.L. Grenfell and T.G. Evans and confirmed by E.J. Clement.

[Check BSBI for further records]

Potentilla verna L. (P. tabernaemontani Asch.) (Spring Cinquefoil) / Grassland Scarce A rare plant of rocky limestone outcrops and short, dry, limestone grassland - confined to the south-western portion of the region; mainly along the ridge from Congresbury to the Avon Gorge where it was first discovered "Plentifully near the May-pole at Clifton" in 1773 by John Lightfoot. A small isolated population known for over 150 years on the slope opposite the former Bristol Zoo was nearly wiped out in 2023 by extremely unacceptable tree planting. Fortunately most of the trees died but they were soon replaced.

[other possible words: foolish / disgraceful / scandalous / moronish / deplorable / inconsiderate.]

Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. ssp. erecta (Tormentil) / Grassland Uncommon Locally frequent in pastures, moors, hedgebanks and sometimes open woods on neutral to acidic soils and occasionally on leached limestone. It has declined since the turn of the century.

[Marshall (1914) mentions var. sciaphila from a "Rough, peaty pasture near Walton-in-Gordano (Miss Roper, 1911)" and credits it in White (1912) but it is not present there. The "Whole plant [is] smaller and more compact; radical leaves small and nearly orbicular, of three or four broadly wedge-shaped leaflets." And further described as "a small, slender decumbent form with the cauline leaves shortly (1-4 mm.) petioled and their stipules entire or bifid." Clapham, Tutin & Warburg (1952, Flora of the British Isles). It is no longer considered worthy of distinction.]

Potentilla erecta x P. anglica = P. x suberecta Zimmeter (Tormentil x Trailing Tormentil) Grassland Very Rare A very rare hybrid. Recorded in a rough pasture at Bleadon, North Somerset in 2003 by R. Spice. Also historically recorded on the northern edge of the region near Damery Bridge in 1897 (Riddelsdell, 1948).
Potentilla anglica Laichard. (Trailing Tormentil) - General Rare Rare and sparsely scattered over the region on dry grassy banks, heaths and woodland margins. It appears to have declined significantly. This was known as P. procumbens in past texts.
Potentilla anglica x P. reptans = P. x mixta Nolte ex Rchb. (Hybrid Cinquefoil) /- General Rare A rare hybrid; scattered over the region on commons, dry grassy slopes and hedgebanks. It is usually found where P. anglica is absent; suggesting it persists long after P. anglica has been lost.
Potentilla reptans L. (Creeping Cinquefoil) / General Common Common in a wide range of habitats from grassland, road verges and disturbed ground to sand dunes and woodland rides. Five-finger grass is given as an alternative name by Riddelsdell (1948). A lot of gardeners hate this plant as it is difficult to eradicate and the smallest root left behind will quickly regenerate but it is really quite beautiful (often far more so than any desired plant the gardener wishes to replace the ground with) and hugely beneficial to wildlife. It often gets attacked by the gall wasp Xestophanes potentillae which causes swollen nodules to be produced on the stolons, roots and lower stems.
Potentilla sterilis (L.) Garcke (Barren Strawberry) / General Frequent Frequent over much of the region in pastures, on grassy slopes, road verges, hedgebanks, woodland and walls; though absent from the coastal levels. This species is often closely associated with ant hills produced by the Yellow Meadow Ant Lasius flavus. The seeds are dispersed widely and if brought back to the nest, reach a perfect seed medium in which to germinate.

DASIPHORA Raf.

Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb. (var. fruticosa) (Shrubby Cinquefoil) General Very Rare - [as Potentilla fruticosa on DB] Widely grown in gardens and often used in public planting displays; particularly around car parks. Recorded at Black Rock Quarry in 2006 by N. Hudson; at Central Bristol in 2009 by R.J. Higgins; and at Wickwar in 2020s by ? [BSBI record].

COMARUM L.

Comarum palustre L. (Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop.) (Marsh Cinquefoil) 1896 Wetland Very Rare Very rare in wet boggy places. Was previously considered to be locally extinct but has been recorded in a number of sites across the south of the region; including: Blagdon Lake, Chew Valley Lake, Walton-in-Gordano, Worlebury, and Stanton Prior [BSBI records].

[2019 record from St. Andrews Park should be deleted]

FRAGARIA L.

Fragaria vesca L. (Wild Strawberry) / Woodland frequent Locally frequent in woodland, hedgebanks and scrub but also in more anthropogenic habitats such as railway banks and old walls; usually on well-drained rocky soils. Noticeably scarce from the Levels and Moors and along the coast in the north. White (1912) mentions an interesting white-fruited form. "In July, 1906 Mr. F. Beames showed me some wild strawberries which, although ripe, were quite white. They were growing on a bank in the lane between Cribb's Causeway and Compton Greenfield, in a patch about a yard across. There were plenty of red strawberries near at hand, but none mixed with the white-fruited ones."
Fragaria moschata (Duchesne) Weston (ssp. moschata) (Hautbois Strawberry) 1912 Woodland Extinct Formerly occurred "Among bushes by the railway under the Downs. Kingswood, 1880...in the woods at Over Court; R.C. Cann Lippincott...Between Yatton and Congresbury; D. Fry. Court Hill, Clevedon; Mrs. Laison. Wood near Swainswick, June, 1855; L. Jenyns...A century or so ago Bristolians resorted to several public 'strawberry gardens' conveniently placed on both banks of the Avon; from one of which the plant under the Downs may have originated." (White, 1912). It was last recorded at Cleeve Wood, Groves in 1988 by S. Hedley.
Fragaria ananassa (Duchesne) Duchesne (F. chiloensis ssp. chiloensis × F. virginiana ssp. virginiana = F. × ananassa (Duchesne ex Weston) Duchesne ex Rozier nothossp. ananassa) (F. x ananassa (Duchesne) Duchesne) (Garden Strawberry) /- General Scarce An infrequent garden outcast, sometimes persisting in places close to habitation such as allotments, road verges and railway banks; mainly around Bristol.
Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duchesne (ssp. chiloensis) (Beach Strawberry) General Extinct - [Sandwith, 1932] A native of western North America which was formerly established for a time on the bank of the Avon until the construction of the Portway (Sandwith, 1932).

GEUM L.

Geum rivale L. (Water Avens) - Wetland Very Rare A rare and sporadically distributed plant of damp woodland, wet meadows, lake-sides and river banks. Most Concentrated around Chew Valley Lake.
Geum rivale x G. urbanum = G. x intermedium Ehrh. (Hybrid Avens) Wetland Very Rare A very rare hybrid. Only recorded along the banks of the River Avon at Bath in 1994 by R.D. Randall and from Worlebury in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].
Geum quellyon Sweet (Chiloé Avens, Scarlet Avens) General Very Rare - [Geum chiloense on DB] Widely grown in gardens, coming in a wide array of flower forms. Was recorded at Midsomer Norton in 1994 by P. Hackman and as a garden escape at the base of a wall on Cotham Brow, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters.
Geum urbanum L. (Wood Avens) / General Common A common species in a wide range of habitats. By no means restricted to woods but prefers shaded spots; particularly along the edges of regular walking routes - where its hooked seeds frequently get picked up and deposited and is sometimes frequent in gardens - which would be unheard of in some parts of the country. It is noticeably absent from the Levels and Moors and along parts of the coast. Also commonly known as Herb Bennet.

AGRIMONIA L.

Agrimonia eupatoria L. (Agrimony) / Grassland Frequent Frequent in rough grassland, pastures, road verges, hedgebanks and along tracks and clearings of open woods. Its bur-covered seeds, which often cling to socks and clothing ensure they are dispersed far and wide by botanists. A white-flowered form was recorded at Oldbury-on-Severn in 1927 by E. Nelmes - "a score of plants on a steep bank dividing the road from a deep rhine." (Riddelsdell, 1948). Apparently this was only the second time that white-flowered plants had been recorded in Britain and seeds sent off to Kew retained their colour. The alternative spelling 'Aggermony' is used in Somerset according to Murray (1896).
Agrimonia procera Wallr. (Fragrant Agrimony) - Grassland Extinct This species has not been recorded in our area since the turn of the century and is considered locally extinct but it's possible it could be rediscovered one day. It was first recorded at Portbury in 1924 by ? (the only record for North Somerset); then in the north of the region at Hill (north of Rockhampton), "two fine plants" in 1928 by E. Nelmes (Riddelsdell, 1948); near Wickwar in 1984 by M.C. Reiss; and lastly at the Rosary, Lyde Green in 1991 by D.E. Green.

List:

Potentilla anserina L. (Silverweed) / Grassland
Potentilla indica (Jacks.) Wolf (Stace) Duchesnea indica (Jacks.) Focke (Yellow-flowered Strawberry) General
Potentilla argentea L. (Hoary Cinquefoil) 1941 /- Grassland
Potentilla recta L. (Sulphur Cinquefoil) General
Potentilla intermedia L. (Russian Cinquefoil) General - [Sandwith, 1932]
Potentilla norvegica L. (Ternate-leaved Cinquefoil) 1977 General
Potentilla verna L. (Stace, NBN) Potentilla tabernaemontani Asch. (old name) (Spring Cinquefoil) / Grassland
Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. ssp. erecta (Tormentil) / Grassland
Potentilla erecta x P. anglica = P. x suberecta Zimmeter (Tormentil x Trailing Tormentil) Grassland
Potentilla anglica Laichard. (Trailing Tormentil) - General
Potentilla anglica x P. reptans = (Stace) P. x mixta Nolte ex Rchb. (Hybrid Cinquefoil) /- General
Potentilla reptans L. (Creeping Cinquefoil) / General
Potentilla sterilis (L.) Garcke (Barren Strawberry) / General
Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb. (var. fruticosa - Kew, GBIF) (Shrubby Cinquefoil) General - [as Potentilla fruticosa on DB]
Comarum palustre L. (Stace) Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop. (NBN) (Marsh Cinquefoil) 1896 Wetland
Fragaria vesca L. (Wild Strawberry) / Woodland
Fragaria moschata (Duchesne) Weston (ssp. moschata - Kew, GBIF) (Hautbois Strawberry) 1912 Woodland
Fragaria ananassa (Duchesne) Duchesne (Stace) Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis × F. virginiana ssp. virginiana = F. × ananassa (Duchesne ex Weston) Duchesne ex Rozier nothossp. ananassa (Kew, GBIF) Fragaria x ananassa (Duchesne) Duchesne (old name) (Garden Strawberry) /- General
Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duchesne (ssp. chiloensis - Kew, GBIF) (Beach Strawberry) General - [Sandwith, 1932]
Geum rivale L. (Water Avens) - Wetland
Geum rivale x G. urbanum = G. x intermedium Ehrh. (Hybrid Avens - NBN) Wetland
Geum quellyon Sweet (Chiloé Avens, Scarlet Avens) General - [Geum chiloense on DB]
Geum urbanum L. (Wood Avens) / General
Agrimonia eupatoria L. (Agrimony) / Grassland
Agrimonia procera Wallr. (Fragrant Agrimony) - Grassland

Species to add:

Potentilla intermedia L. (Russian Cinquefoil) - [Sandwith, 1932]
Potentilla erecta x P. anglica = P. x suberecta Zimmeter (Tormentil x Trailing Tormentil)
Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb. (var. fruticosa - Kew, GBIF) (Shrubby Cinquefoil) - [as Potentilla fruticosa on DB]
Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duchesne (ssp. chiloensis - Kew, GBIF) (Beach Strawberry) - [Sandwith, 1932]
Geum quellyon Sweet (Chiloé Avens, Scarlet Avens) - [Geum chiloense on DB]

Could occur:

Potentilla inclinata Vill. (Grey Cinquefoil)
Potentilla erecta x P. reptans = P. x italica Lehm. (Tormentil x Creeping Cinquefoil)
Geum macrophyllum Willd. (var. macrophyllum - Kew, GBIF) (Large-leaved Avens)
Agrimonia eupatoria x A. procera = A. x wirtgenii Asch. & Graebn. (Agrimony x Fragrant Agrimony)