Potentilla robbinsiana

Potentilla robbinsiana
	Robbins' cinquefoil ; (Potentilla robbinsiana)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Potentilla
Species:	P. robbinsiana
Binomial name
	Potentilla robbinsiana; Oakes ex Rydb.

Potentilla robbinsiana, the dwarf mountain cinquefoil

White Mountains of New Hampshire. The plant is nearly stemless and measures two to four centimeters in diameter.^[2]^[3]

History

The

backpacker boom" led to significantly increased use of the Crawford Path, making the plant's limited habitat vulnerable to hikers picking the flowers and trampling the plant.^[5]

The decline of specimens of the plant was mitigated when it received protection under the

Endangered Species Act in 1980, at which time the known population was a mere 3,700 plants. However, due to a very successful awareness program and an effort to reroute trails away from the plant's habitat along with enclosures for the main population, the plant has since then recovered to well over 14,000 plants and was delisted in August 2002.^[7] Additional efforts included public education, biological research, seed collection and transplant efforts.^[3]

The awareness program and repopulation efforts were successful in a large part due to a unique partnership between the

New England Wild Flower Society.^[3]

Distribution

The White Mountain National Forest contains 100% of this species' global population. The plant has four extant occurrences, with two being natural and two others from transplant efforts.[8]

Habitat

Potentilla robbinsiana is generally placed in the dry/mesic heath meadow system of alpine communities, though it is also found on subalpine bare rock summits. The primary habitat is an exposed and barren fellfield habitat with high winds and low temperatures. While frost heaving is considered a requirement, too much causes mortality.^[8]

References

^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Potentilla robbinsiana". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
^ "Endangered and Dangerous Plants of New Hampshire". NH Living. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ron Rothschadl. "Rare White Mountains Plant Recovers: Endangered Species Success Story". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
^ Condensed Facts About Mount Washington, Atkinson News Co., 1912.
^ ^a ^b "Robbins' Cinquefoil: A Partnership Success". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
^ "Species CINQUEFOIL, ROBBINS'". Virginia Tech Conservation Management Institute. Archived from the original on 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
^ [1] USFWS Delisting Report dated 8/2009
^ ^a ^b "Potentilla robbinsiana" (PDF). US Forest Service. Retrieved 2009-05-27.

[1] USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Potentilla robbinsiana". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 13 October 2015.

[nhliving-2] "Endangered and Dangerous Plants of New Hampshire". NH Living. Retrieved 2009-05-26.

[fws1-3] Ron Rothschadl. "Rare White Mountains Plant Recovers: Endangered Species Success Story". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-05-26.

[Atkinson-4] Condensed Facts About Mount Washington, Atkinson News Co., 1912.

[fws2-5] "Robbins' Cinquefoil: A Partnership Success". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2009-05-26.

[vt1-6] "Species CINQUEFOIL, ROBBINS'". Virginia Tech Conservation Management Institute. Archived from the original on 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2009-05-27.

[7] [1] USFWS Delisting Report dated 8/2009

[fs-8] "Potentilla robbinsiana" (PDF). US Forest Service. Retrieved 2009-05-27.

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