Potentilla anserina

Potentilla anserina (=Argentina anserina), commonly known as Goose Grass, Wild Tansy, Silverweed, is a perennial that does very well as ground cover on semi-shady sites.

Contents 1 Naming 2 Taxonomy 3 Characteristics 3.1 Growth 3.2 Leaves 3.3 Flowers and Fruit 4 Distribution 5 Cultivation 6 Uses 7 References 7.1 Literature 7.2 Footnotes 8 Non-commercial Links

[edit] Naming

Potentilla anserina was described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus. The name is considered as validly published.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Goose Grass is a species in the genus Potentilla (cinquefoil) which contains 500 species and belongs to the family of the Rosaceae (Rose Family).

[edit] Characteristics

[edit] Growth

The perennials grow to a height of approximately 20 centimeters. They grow at a rapid rate and have a short lifespan. They develop creeping, up to 80 centimeters long stems that root at the nodes and produce new plantlets. Thus wild tansy quickly forms dense mats.

[edit] Leaves

Potentilla anserina is a decidious plant. It has imparipinnate leaves that are mid green. The leaves are arranged opposite one another on long stems. The 13 to 21 sessile leaflets are elliptic with serrulate margins.

[edit] Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are five-petaled and yellow and appear from May to August. They are 1,5 to 2 centimeters in diameter and are arranged solitary on long stalks. These stalks are formed in the nodes of the stems. The petals are ovate and rounded at the apex.

The fruits are nutlets and develop in summer.

[edit] Distribution

Potentilla anserina is native to the whole of Europe, the Caucasus, West and East Sibiria, Sakhalin, the Kamtschatka Peninsula, Central Asia, the Himalaya, Alaska, Canada, the whole of the US, with the exception of the Southeast, Florida and the southern prairie states, as well as to Australia and New Zealand.

[edit] Cultivation

The Goose Grass prefers a sunny to half shady site and can withstand temperatures down to -28,2º C. It grows best in pebbly, loamy soil that is moderately moist. The plants are only slightly drought tolerant. They will do moderately well in anaerobic soils and are moderately tolerant of limy conditions.

[edit] Uses

Potentilla anserina is used medicinally as tea, tonic or pills. Its astringent agents make it a useful drug to treat diarrhea, kidney stones and arthritis^[1]. To make tea the plants are collected while blooming and are then dried and crushed. In folk medicine a brew of the plants is used for external treatment of badly healing wounds.

 Please read the health issues note! 

[edit] References

[edit] Literature

• Walter Erhardt, Erich Götz, Nils Bödeker, Siegmund Seybold: Der große Zander. Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7. (Ger.)
• Christoper Brickell (Editor-in-chief): RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Third edition. Dorling Kindersley, London 2003, ISBN 0-7513-3738-2.
• efloras.org

[edit] Footnotes

1. ↑ Potentilla anserina in Flora of Pakistan

[edit] Non-commercial Links

More pictures of Potentilla anserina in the

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• United States Department of Agriculturees:Potentilla anserina

fr:Potentilla anserina