arctic cinquefoil vs Common Cinquefoil

Potentilla hyparctica compared with Potentilla simplex

Key Differences

• arctic cinquefoil is Vulnerable while Common Cinquefoil is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	arctic cinquefoil	Common Cinquefoil
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order same	Rosales (Roses & Allies)	Rosales (Roses & Allies)
Family same	Rosaceae (Rose Family)	Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Genus same	Potentilla	Potentilla
Species	Potentilla hyparctica	Potentilla simplex

Evolutionary Relationship

arctic cinquefoil and Common Cinquefoil share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Potentilla.

Conservation Status

arctic cinquefoil

VU — Vulnerable

Common Cinquefoil

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	arctic cinquefoil	Common Cinquefoil
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

arctic cinquefoil

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common Cinquefoil

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Canada, France, and United States.

arctic cinquefoil

The Arctic cinquefoil (Potentilla hyparctica) is a species in the genus Potentilla. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Common Cinquefoil

<em>Potentilla simplex</em>, commonly known as the common cinquefoil, is a plant species found in Canada, France, and the United States. It typically occupies diverse terrestrial habitats, often colonizing open woodlands, meadows, roadsides, and disturbed areas in temperate regions of North America and Europe. Common cinquefoil belongs to the genus <em>Potentilla</em> within the family Rosaceae. It is a low-growing, trailing perennial herb that spreads by stolons, producing characteristic five-petaled yellow flowers and palmately compound leaves that are diagnostic of the genus. The species often thrives in well-drained soils with moderate moisture and is a common component of open, semi-shaded plant communities. Biological traits such as average lifespan, plant height, and mass of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species has not yet been formally evaluated by the IUCN, and its global conservation status therefore remains undetermined. Its presence across multiple continents and ability to colonize a range of disturbed and natural habitats suggests resilience and broad ecological tolerance.