[Cinquefoils: The Genera Comarum, Dasiphora, Drymocallis and Potentilla in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Common Silverweed, Silverweed Cinquefoil, Silvery Cinquefoil

Potentilla anserina ssp. anserina

Synonyms: Argentina anserina, Argentina anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla anserina var. anserina, Potentilla anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina var. sericea, Potentilla anserina var. yukonensis, Potentilla egedii ssp. yukonensis, Potentilla yukonensis

Common Silverweed, Silverweed Cinquefoil, Silvery Cinquefoil: Potentilla anserina ssp. anserina (Synonyms: Argentina anserina, Argentina anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla anserina var. anserina, Potentilla anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina var. sericea, Potentilla anserina var. yukonensis, Potentilla egedii ssp. yukonensis, Potentilla yukonensis)

Common silverweed as seen at Dalton Pt., western Columbia River Gorge..........August 19, 2009.

Close-up of the flower of Common Silverweed, Silverweed Cinquefoil, Silvery Cinquefoil: Potentilla anserina ssp. anserina (Synonyms: Argentina anserina, Argentina anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla anserina var. anserina, Potentilla anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina var. sericea, Potentilla anserina var. yukonensis, Potentilla egedii ssp. yukonensis, Potentilla yukonensis)The photo at right shows a close-up of the flower of silverweed.........September 1, 2007. Note that the oval-shaped petals are much longer than the sepals.
Characteristics:

Silverweed as its name implies is a grayish-haired, tufted perennial which arises from thick, fleshy roots. The flowering stems range from 3-28 cm high and the plant has long, slender stolons which root and sprout at the nodes. The basal leaves are 10-20 cm long and pinnately compound. The 11-25 leaflets are coarsely toothed, obovate to oblong in shape, and from 1-3.5 cm long. The larger leaflets are commonly interspersed with smaller ones. The blades may be greenish above, but are commonly whitish or grayish-woolly haired on both surfaces.

The flowers are solitary at the nodes of the stolons. The calyx is silky with the sepals ovate-triangular in shape and 4-6 mm long. The 5 yellow petals are each oblong-obovate to oval in shape and 8-12 mm long. The pistils are numerous and there about 20-25 stamens.


Importance:

The rhizomes of silverweed evidently taste like parsnips, sweet potatoes, or chestnuts. They may be eaten raw, but are best eaten roasted, boiled, or fried. They may also be dried for storage. The roots were collected by Native Americans during the fall months as that was evidently the time they were most flavorful. As silverweed stimulates the uterine muscle, it should not be eaten by women who are pregnant.


Habitat:

Silverweed is found in moist, open sites near water. Such locations include streambanks, mud flats, pond margins, and meadows.


Range:

Silverweed is found mainly east of the Cascades from Alaska south to southern California, and east to the Atlantic coast. It is also an Eurasian species.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found on the shores of the Columbia River throughout the length of the Gorge.


Common Silverweed, Silverweed Cinquefoil, Silvery Cinquefoil: Potentilla anserina ssp. anserina (Synonyms: Argentina anserina, Argentina anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla anserina var. anserina, Potentilla anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina var. sericea, Potentilla anserina var. yukonensis, Potentilla egedii ssp. yukonensis, Potentilla yukonensis)

Silverweed as seen at Dalton Pt., western Columbia River Gorge..........September 1, 2007.

Underside of the petals and calyx of Common Silverweed, Silverweed Cinquefoil, Silvery Cinquefoil: Potentilla anserina ssp. anserina (Synonyms: Argentina anserina, Argentina anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla anserina var. anserina, Potentilla anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina var. sericea, Potentilla anserina var. yukonensis, Potentilla egedii ssp. yukonensis, Potentilla yukonensis)

The photo above shows a close-up view of the calyx and underside of the petals of silverweed.........September 1, 2007.

Common Silverweed, Silverweed Cinquefoil, Silvery Cinquefoil: Potentilla anserina ssp. anserina (Synonyms: Argentina anserina, Argentina anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla anserina var. anserina, Potentilla anserina var. concolor, Potentilla anserina var. sericea, Potentilla anserina var. yukonensis, Potentilla egedii ssp. yukonensis, Potentilla yukonensis)

The photo above shows the flower and pinnately compound leaf of silverweed as seen above the high water mark on the shores of the Columbia River at Dalton Point.........September 1, 2007.

Paul Slichter