# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![marsh cinquefoil](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Comaret_Aubrac.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jmp48, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Comaret_Aubrac.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Comarum ## 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 - **Wetland Wanderer:** Marsh cinquefoil has hollow stems that help it breathe, allowing it to thrive in waterlogged or submerged wetland soils. - **Spreading Star:** Marsh cinquefoil can spread widely using creeping rhizomes, helping it colonize new, muddy areas and grow in dense patches. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — Eats rhizomes and stems. - **Eaten by:** Mallard duck (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Feeds on seeds and leaves. - **Shelter:** [Green Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-frog) (*Lithobates clamitans*) — Hides among its dense growth. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## 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 ## Where to spot - [Black Tern Bog State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-tern-bog-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Kettle Falls Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kettle-falls-historic-district) — Minnesota, US · Historic District - [Sand Bar State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sand-bar-state-park) — Vermont, US · State Park - [Naturpark Oberpfälzer Wald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-oberpfalzer-wald) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carmanah-walbran-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see marsh cinquefoil](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/marsh-cinquefoil) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Marsh Cinquefoil: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marsh-cinquefoil)