Potentilla micrantha

Potentilla micrantha, common name pink barren strawberry, is a species of cinquefoil belonging to the family Rosaceae.

Etymology
The species' name micrantha means with little flowers and comes from Greek micro (small) and anthos (flower).

Distribution and habitat
This species occurs mainly in the Mediterranean Sea, in Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor. It ranges from the Pyrenees through southern Europe to the Balkan Peninsula.

It is mainly widespread in the mountains of Southern Europe, with some short-range areas of occurrence in Spain, Central Europe (Germany, Switzerland), the Black Sea, the Caucasus and South Africa. It grows wild in mountains and hills grasslands, in not too thick woods and bushy areas, but also in open environments, at an elevation up to 1500 m above sea level.

Description
Potentilla micrantha has a thin, short and densely pubescent stem, that can reach a height of up to 10 cm, with no runners (non -stoloniferous). The small perennial herb has hairy-silky leaves, and a thick stump. It shows elliptical ternate small leaves with 6-11 teeth on the edge. These leaves are gray-green on both sides, with straight hairs. Potentilla micrantha resembles wild strawberries. Flowers are small with white or rarely pale pink petals. The petals are up to 3 mm wide. The calyx protrudes from the corolla, that has a diameter of 7–10 mm. A distinctive feature is the beetroot color of the inside calyx. The species is quite similar to Potentilla sterilis.

Biology
This species blossoms usually from April to May, sometimes already in March. Flowering time in Germany and Switzerland is from March to May. When the flowers open, the stamens move towards the centre and arrange in a conical structure, where the anthers at the tip surround the stigmas. This structure involves an efficient autogamy mechanism, that guarantees the self-fertilization. This plant reproduces by seeds.