Potentilla recta L.

Erect, somewhat stout perennial herb up to 60–(80) cm tall at flowering; stems green or reddish, clothed with short and long pilose hairs and glands. Lvs mostly cauline, those of the lower ⅓ often withering by anthesis; petiole up to 130 mm long, pilose and glandular; blade orbicular, palmate; leaflets (5)–7, oblong-obovate to linear-lanceolate, sessile, (15)–25–65–(110) × 5–15–(25) mm, sparsely to moderately covered in pilose and short hairs on both surfaces or with only short hairs on upper; margins deeply serrate or occasionally almost pinnatisect, with 8–12–(17) pairs of teeth on terminal leaflet; stipules long-triangular, acute, with up to 3 teeth; upper lvs reduced with fewer narrower leaflets, finally ± sessile. Fls 5-merous, many in lax, terminal cymes. Epicalyx segments linear-lanceolate, acute, entire. Sepals ± narrow-ovate, c. 4–6 mm long, pilose with longer hairs scattered among shorter hairs, c. = epicalyx segments, connate at base. Petals obovate, (5)–7–10–(12) mm long, pale yellow, deeply emarginate. Styles filiform. Achenes reticulate, narrowly winged, c. 1.2–1.8 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–May; Fruiting: Dec.–May.