Alchemilla faeroensis, also known as Faroese lady's-mantle, is a species of arctic-montane herbaceous perennial plant native to the Faroe Islands and eastern Iceland. It is part of the lady's-mantle genus in the rose family. It has been described as "one of the outstanding endemics in northwestern Europe".
Description Faroese lady's-mantle is a small herbaceous plant growing to at most. In more exposed areas they are stunted, only growing to small sizes.
Its leaves each have seven lobes that are half to two-thirds to the base of the leaf. The edges of the lobes have coarse teeth. The top of its leaves are green and the undersides are silvery with hairs on the undersides. Its flowers are pale green and measure about 3 millimeters. It flowers in June and July.
Taxonomy Alchemilla faeroensis was scientifically described as a variety of Alchemilla fissa by Johan Martin Christian Lange in 1887. In 1894 Robert Buser raised it to species rank with its accepted name. It is classified in the Alchemilla genus within the family Rosaceae. The species is likely the result of a hybridization event between Alchemilla alpina and a subspecies of Alchemilla vulgaris, an idea that is supported by chromosome number counts and analysis of their phytochemicals. It has no accepted subspecies or varieties, but has seven synonyms.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Alchemilla argentea 1837 species = het. Alchemilla faeroensis f. denudata 1901 form = het. Alchemilla faeroensis var. pumila 1896 variety = het. Alchemilla fissa 1835 species = het. Alchemilla fissa var. faeroensis 1887 variety ≡ hom. Alchemilla splendens subsp. faeroensis 1906 subspecies ≡ hom. Potentilla faeroensis 2012 species ≡ hom. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Names The species name, faeroensis, means "from the Faroe Islands" in Botanical Latin. Its common names include Faeroes lady's-mantle and Faeroeic lady's-mantle.
Range and habitat Faroese lady's-mantle grows on the Faroe Islands and the eastern half of Iceland. The furthest west in Iceland that they have been reported is in Ásbyrgi.
On the Faroe Islands it is more commonly found in higher areas, but can be found all the way to the edge of the sea. It is commonly found in crevices and rock-ledges in relatively dry areas and alongside streams elsewhere.
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