Pink Barren-strawberry

Potentilla micrantha has a thin, short and densely pubescent stem, that can reach a height of up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in), with no runners (non -stoloniferous). The small perennial herb has hairy-silky leaves, and a thick stump. It shows elliptical ternate small leaves with 6-11 teeth on the edge. These leaves are gray-green on both sides, with straight hairs. Potentilla micrantha resembles wild strawberries. Flowers are small with white or rarely pale pink petals. The petals are up to 3 mm wide. The calyx protrudes from the corolla, that has a diameter of 7–10 mm. A distinctive feature is the beetroot color of the inside calyx. The species is quite similar to Potentilla sterilis.

This species occurs mainly in the Mediterranean Sea, in Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor. It ranges from the Pyrenees through southern Europe to the Balkan Peninsula. It is mainly widespread in the mountains of Southern Europe, with some short-range areas of occurrence in Spain, Central Europe (Germany, Switzerland), the Black Sea, the Caucasus and South Africa. It grows wild in mountains and hills grasslands, in not too thick woods and bushy areas, but also in open environments, at an elevation up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level.

The species' name micrantha means with little flowers and comes from Greek micro (small) and anthos (flower).