# Pacific silverweed

*Argentina pacifica*

Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest traditionally managed silverweed in coastal 'root gardens,' roasting the roots which taste remarkably like sweet potatoes or parsnips.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Rosales › Rosaceae › Argentina
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Coastal salt marshes, brackish estuaries, sand dunes, and tidal wet meadows.
- **Diet:** Autotrophic (photosynthesis, drawing water and minerals from saline or brackish soils).
- **Range:** Pacific Coast of North America, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California
- **Size:** Creeping runners up to 1 meter long, with leaves 10-30 cm high.
- **Lifespan:** Perennial (clonal patches can persist for decades)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Coastal development, shoreline armoring, pollution runoff, and invasive wetland plants.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and ecologically vital. Watch your step to avoid trampling the delicate, creeping runners. While the roots are historically a prized edible resource, avoid harvesting in the wild to preserve local estuarine ecosystems and avoid soil contaminants.

## About

Argentina pacifica , sometimes called pacific silverweed , silverweed cinquefoil , or simply silverweed , is a low-growing perennial (6") with pinnately compound green leaves with silvery undersides. It is a member of the species aggregate known as Argentina anserina or Potentilla anserina . The yellow, saucer-shaped flowers appear late spring through summer. Pacific silverweed spreads very quickly and makes a lovely groundcover in moist areas. They need sun and regular water.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/be5dde71-932a-4271-bcce-06c64c89f282
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/524900
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_pacifica
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/375463975/medium.jpeg (no rights reserved, CC0, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.