Potentilla is a genus of herbs, sometimes small shrubs; stipules present.
Leaves alternate, compound, often with 5 leaflets.
Flowers yellow to white, radially symmetrical, mostly with 5 petals and 5 sepals (sometimes 4), sepals alternating with many small green bracts; stamens usually numerous (20); pistils 10-numerous, ovule one; floral parts attached to the saucer-shaped or round expanded base of the flower (hypanthium).

Potentilla recta. fruit and seeds.Ken Chamberlain, The Ohio State University, invasive.org.Bugwood.org (Accessed 3/2015).
Fruit dry, a head of seed-like fruit (achenes).