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Downy agrimony

Also known as: soft agrimony

Agrimonia pubescens Wallr.

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Downy agrimony inflorescence axis
Downy agrimony flower
Downy agrimony flowers
Downy agrimony leaflets
Downy agrimony stem
Downy agrimony
Downy agrimony flower
Downy agrimony
Downy agrimony leaves
Downy agrimony
Downy agrimony

Morphology

Stem
Erect, usually solitary, wand-like, pubescent with hairs ascending or curved toward stem.
Leaves
Alternate, odd pinnately-compound; leaflets of primary leaves 5-13, lanceolate to elliptic or narrowly egg-shaped, 4/5 to 4 inches long, glabrous or sparsely hairy above, velvety-hairy beneath, strongly veined; margins coarsely toothed; smaller leaflets between larger leaflets; stipules conspicuous, lanceolate to nearly ovate, wing-like.
Inflorescence
Racemes, spike-like, very slender, terminal; stalks erect at flowering, later bent downwards; axis of inflorescence densely short-hairy.
Flower
Tiny, regular; hypanthium (enlarged receptacle below calyx) top-shaped to hemispheric, fluted, bristly hairy; sepals 5, green, spreading at flowering, later incurved; petals 5, yellow, 1/8 to 1/6 inch long; stamens 5-15.
Fruit
Achenes, 1-2, spherical, about 1/10 inch in diameter, enclosed in persistent, hardened hypanthium.

Ecology

Habitat
Dry, open or rocky woods and thickets.
Distribution
East 1/3 of Kansas.

Additional Notes

Comments

Latin pubescens "downy or hairy", in reference to the pubescence on the stem and leaves. Ancient and medieval writers describe European Agrimonia species as being used medicinally to treat dysentery, liver and spleen disorders, snake bites, rabies, and parasites.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Rosaceae - Rose Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
1-5 feet
Last Updated
2008-03-20
Color Groups
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: July, August, September, October