Potentilla sp.

[Zdenek]

I should be grateful if somebody could help me with identification of this Potentilla. I received its seed in 2005 from RMRP as Potentilla nivea collected in Colorado. I believed it till quite recently when I revealed that Potentilla nivea is mostly an European plant, much higher and looser and looks quite different. I have no idea now about the right name of my plant which is nicely compact, silver leaved and with almost sessile flowers. Could anybody from forumists give me any idea?

[TheOnionMan]

Potentilla nivea is a circumpolar species and a variable species, and accordingly, a number of names and subtaxa defined.  Two subspecies are listed in the USDA Plant Profiles, both occurring in Colorado in RMRP territory: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PONI2

Here are some other pertinent links:

PDF with pics showing very compact plants found in Washington State.
http://www1.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/fguide/pdf/potniv.pdf

Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (some image links at the bottom)
http://www.mun.ca/biology/delta/arcticf/_ca/www/roponi.htm

Photos, scroll to bottom:
http://www.wildstaudenzauber.de/Seiten/Willmore_Wilderness_Pferde-Ritt.htm

Uploaded are 2 herbariums specimen views showing a very condensed specimen, under an older name P. nivea ssp. fallax.

[Lori S.]

Zdenek,
Your plant looks a lot like this furry little beauty I found on Forgetmenot Ridge west of here.  If yours is in fact P. nivea, I'd assume this one is too (but I find our alpine potentillas very difficult to sort out!)