Comarum Palustre, Purple Marshlocks

Day 271: Rare in Mount Rainier National Park, Comarum palustre is a denizen of boggy or swampy areas. Formerly grouped with the Potentillas (cinquefoils) and previously bearing the misleading appellation of "Marsh Cinquefoil," Purple Marshlocks has undergone changes in both its common and scientific names as research determined that it was a genus in its own right. While most modern field guides will have the correct taxonomy, the older and confusing common name persists. It bears a compound leaf comprised of 5-7 leaflets, toothed, and arranged somewhat palmately (like fingers on a hand). The similarity of the leaf to that of the cinquefoils ("cinque," five; "foil," leaf) was one of the factors which led to its original and inaccurate classification.