Fruticosa:  Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.   shrubs; NOT herbs; NOT just woody at base 15-150 cm high; NOT a low plant leaves pinnate; NOT palmate flowers yellow achenes hairy; NOT generally smooth

 

Potentilla: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.  These answers do not apply to all species of Potentilla found in the Canadian prairie provinces, but they do apply to this species. shrubs or trees; NOT herbs; NOT just woody at base leaves compound with 3-7 small, distinct leaflets; NOT simple; NOT just lobed flowers yellow; NOT white or pink bractlets present, alternating with the sepals carpels numerous, more than about 5 ovary or ovaries superior, hypanthium shaped like a saucer, cup, or urn and free from the ovary; ovary NOT inferior, NOT enclosed in and adnate to the hypanthium fruit dry (achenes); NOT fleshy; NOT a pome

 

Rosaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.  These answers do not apply to all species of Rosaceae found in the Canadian prairie provinces, but they do apply to this species. shrubs or trees; NOT herbs plants NOT climbing plants with normal leaves leaves alternate; NOT opposite leaves compound; NOT simple leaflets NOT leathery; NOT spinose-tipped flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others flowers perfect petals 5; solitary standard NOT present stamens numerous; NOT 5 fruit NOT a legume