marsh cinquefoil
ExplorePlants
marsh cinquefoil
Comarum palustre
Marsh cinquefoil is a pretty plant that grows in wet places like marshes. It has bright yellow flowers that look like little cups and can be found near water.
Habitat: Wetlands
Appearance
The marsh cinquefoil has striking deep reddish-purple, star-shaped flowers that stand out against its green, palmate leaves, often with five leaflets. Its stems are typically reddish, adding to its unique wetland beauty.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusComarum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
3
Interesting facts
Ancient people used its roots to make a reddish dye for clothes!
Its leaves often have five 'fingers,' like a tiny green hand!
Its unique flowers are a rare deep purple, unlike most wetland plants.
This plant can sometimes float on water, thanks to its special stems!
Special abilities
Ability
Wetland Wanderer
Marsh cinquefoil has hollow stems that help it breathe, allowing it to thrive in waterlogged or submerged wetland soils.
Ability
Spreading Star
Marsh cinquefoil can spread widely using creeping rhizomes, helping it colonize new, muddy areas and grow in dense patches.
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
Marsh cinquefoil has deep reddish-purple flowers that attract specific insect pollinators like flies and some bees for reproduction.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-50 cm
- Spread
- 30-100 cm
- Flower Size
- 1.5-2.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late Spring to Late Summer (June-August)
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
Pollinates
White-tailed bumblebee
Bombus lucorum
Collects nectar and pollen.
Eaten by
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Eats rhizomes and stems.
Eaten by
Mallard duck
Anas platyrhynchos
Feeds on seeds and leaves.
Shelter
Green Frog
Lithobates clamitans
Hides among its dense growth.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Wetland
This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify marsh cinquefoil?
Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.
How tall is marsh cinquefoil?
10-50 cm
How wide does marsh cinquefoil spread?
30-100 cm
How big are the flowers on marsh cinquefoil?
1.5-2.5 cm
When does marsh cinquefoil bloom?
Late Spring to Late Summer (June-August)
Is marsh cinquefoil edible?
No
Is marsh cinquefoil toxic?
None
What is marsh cinquefoil's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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