slender lady's-mantle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• slender lady's-mantle
• thin-stemmed lady's-mantle
• thread-stemmed lady's-mantle
• Hairy Lady's-mantle
• thread-stemmed lady’s mantle
• Thin-stem Lady's-mantle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Alchemilla filicaulis var. vestita
• Potentilla salmoniana
• Alchemilla minor f. autumnalis
• Alchemilla minor var. denudata
• Alchemilla vulgaris subsp. vestita
• Alchemilla vulgaris f. vestita
• Alchemilla filicaulis var. dasycaula
• Alchemilla filicaulis f. denudata
• Alchemilla filicaulis f. autumnalis
• Alchemilla filicaulis var. lasiocalyx
• Alchemilla filicaulis f. silvestris
• Alchemilla filicaulis f. vestita
• Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita
• Alchemilla hybrida subsp. vestita
• Alchemilla minor var. vestita
• Alchemilla minor f. autumnalis
• Alchemilla minor subsp. filicaulis
• Alchemilla minor var. filicaulis
• Alchemilla salmoniana
• Alchemilla vestita
• Alchemilla vestita var. calvescens
• Alchemilla pseudominor
• Alchemilla vulgaris subsp. filicaulis
• Alchemilla vulgaris var. filicaulis
• Alchemilla vulgaris var. vestita

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It falls into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, specifically within the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Alchemilla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is documented in the coastal landscapes of Denmark and the rugged terrain of Finland. It can also be found inhabiting the islands of Føroyaar and Iceland. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the varied habitats of Great Britain. Collectively, these locations define the primary northern geographical boundaries for the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alchemilla filicaulis is characterized by its preference for transitional environments, specifically thriving within forest edges and damp meadows. It occupies niche microhabitats where the moisture levels are consistently high, favoring wet soil conditions that support its growth patterns. By positioning itself at the periphery of forested areas, the plant benefits from a balance of filtered sunlight and the increased humidity typical of woodland margins, while its presence in meadows indicates an adaptation to open, moisture-retentive grasslands.

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows: wet

Life history

The life history of Alchemilla filicaulis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, its regenerative buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable periods. This life form, categorized both as a hemicryptophyte and specifically as a hemicrypto-phyte, enables the plant to maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche by utilizing these protected buds to re-emerge annually.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alchemilla filicaulis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting rather than being a liana or vine, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small plant with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.094 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.094 m

Plant height min:

0.08 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alchemilla filicaulis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous species. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of 12.06 cm², which contributes to a specific leaf area (SLA) with a mean value of 192.67 cm²/g, indicating a specific structural investment in leaf thickness and surface area relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

12.06 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

192.67 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alchemilla filicaulis involves a complex interplay of sexual and asexual mechanisms. The plant undergoes a flowering period that typically begins in June and concludes in August. During this stage, pollination is facilitated through a syndrome categorized as "other," distinguishing it from common insect or wind-driven patterns. Following fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene, which is characterized by being indehiscent. The resulting seeds are notably minute, with a mean mass of 0.000495 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00044 g to a maximum of 0.00047 g. These seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, relying on wind for movement. Additionally, the plant's reproductive capabilities are supplemented by the presence of asexual reproduction, allowing for vegetative propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

other

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass max:

0.00047 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000495 g

Seed mass min:

0.00044 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Alchemilla filicaulis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid.

Flavonoid

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises