Medical Uses: As with most members of the rose family the Cinquefoils are astringent so can help close wounds and treat diarrhea.

Similar Species: There are many Cinquefoils. Some have only three leaflets including Rough Cinquefoil (P. Norvegica) which has a hairy stem to 1meter (39") high and is a native and Dwarf Mountain Cinquefoil (P. Robbinsiana) which is often mistaken for a Strawberry. Plants with five leaflets include Dwarf Cinquefoil (P. Canadensis) which has basal leaves and leaflets toothed only beyond their middle and also is mistaken for a Strawberry. Also with five leaflets is Common Cinquefoil, Potentilla simplex which is rather reclining with stems to 60cm (2'). Silvery Cinquefoil (P. Argentea is non-native and has small, silvery leaflets with only a few teeth and small flowers (less than 1cm (.3") wide).

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One of the best general guides to wildflowers of the North Eastern and North Central United States. Newcomb's key is an excellent, simple method for identifying plants. Newcomb has drawings for almost every plant mentioned that are excellent aids to identifying the species. Though only the more common plants are covered this is often the first book I pick up when trying to identify a wildflower.

Wildflo wers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians

This is perhaps the best of many field guides covering this region. Featuring 446 excellent color photographs (located with the text) and mentioning as similar to those illustrated are another 800 or so species for a total coverage of over 1,200 species. The start of each family section includes line drawings of some of the species showing important features. The text includes the usual description, bloom season, range, habitat and additionally includes information such as medical uses and lore and how the species was named. This is the official field guide of the Tennessee Native Plant Society.