Agrimony (Agrimonia spp.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genus Agrimonia, commonly called Agrimony or Harvestlice, is a genus
of 12-15 species of perennial herbaceous flowering plants in Family
Rosaceae, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere,
with one species also in Africa. The PLANTS database lists nine species
of Agrimonia occurring in the United States and Canada, five of which are
known to occur in Facquier County: 1) Agrimonia gryposepala (tall hairy
agrimony), 2) Agrimonia microcarpa (smallfruit agrimony), 3) Agrimonia
parviflora (harvest lice), 4) Agrimonia pubescens (soft agrimony), and 5)
Agrimonia rostellata (beaked agrimony). Several specimens of Agrimonia

have been observed in Sky Meadows State Park; only one species, harvest-

lice (Agrimonia parviflora Aiton) has been identified. Further research will

need to be conducted to determine the status of Agrimonia species in the

park.

 

Agrimonia species are erect, perennial herbs. Leaves are alternate, pin-

nately compound, with smaller leaflets alternating with larger ones. The

stipules (an appendage at the base of a petiole) are large. The flowers are

small, eyllow, perfect, in spike-like racemes. The calyx is persistent, top-

shaped or hemispeherical in fruit, constricted at the throat, bearing hook-

ed bristles. There are 5 calyx-lobes, closed after flowering, and 5 petals

with 5-15 stamens. Two carpels, maturing into achenes,, enclosed by the

hardened, bristly, 10 groved, calys-base maturity.

 

 

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