Potentilla recta aka Sulphur Cinquefoil

Potentilla recta, also known as sulphur cinquefoil or rough-fruited cinquefoil, is a species of cinquefoil native to Eurasia. However, it has been introduced to North America and can now be found throughout the continent, with the exception of the northernmost parts of Canada and Alaska. This herbaceous perennial can reach heights of up to 60cm and has palmately divided leaves with five or seven coarsely toothed leaflets. During the summer, it produces loose sprays of saucer-shaped bright canary-yellow flowers that are approximately 2.5cm wide. It is considered a minor noxious weed in some areas and can be found in various habitats, including disturbed and weedy places. The plant likely originated in the Mediterranean Basin, and the first recorded collections were made in Ontario in the 19th century and British Columbia in 1914. Sulfur cinquefoil is a vigorous, non-rhizomatous perennial that belongs to the rose family. It typically grows to heights of 12-30" and is native to regions ranging from the Mediterranean to central Asia, including areas such as Asia Minor, Iran, and alpine regions of northern Africa. It was unintentionally introduced to North America in the late 1800s and has since naturalized in a wide range of habitats, particularly disturbed areas such as roadsides, railroad right of ways, abandoned agricultural fields, meadows, pastures, and waste areas. The genus name, Potentilla, stems from the Latin word "potens," meaning powerful, in reference to the plant's reputed medicinal properties. The specific epithet, recta, translates to upright in Latin.