Potentilla argentea isa perennial herb, several stems from a woody root, stems radially branched, wooly-hairy, whitish, often reclining, 10-50 cm long.
Leaves alternate, palmately divided, leaflets 5 to 7, to 3 cm long, narrow, pinnately divided, margins toothed, widest above middle, dark green above, silvery-wooly below, forming a winter rosette.
Flowers yellow, radially symmetrical, to 1.5 cm wide, petals about as long as sepals; inflorescence of open clusters; self fertile (agamospermy), (Mulligan and Kevan 1973), visited by tiny bees (personal observation) blooming June-Sept..
Fruit a head of achenes; seeds eaten by some birds and small mammals, foliage eaten by rabbits (Martin et al. 1951).
Wetland status: UPL.
Frequency in NYC: Infrequent.
Origin: Eurasia.
Habitat: Open, dry, disturbed areas, roadsides, meadows.
Note: Attacked by the fungi; Fabraea dehnii, Marssonina potentillae, Peronospora potentillae (Werner and Soule 1976; Sinclair et al. 1987).