Easily confused with Hybrid Cinquefoil and Trailing Tormentil

Both a yellow dye and a red dye can be extracted from the roots of this plant. One is a phlobaphene, one of the natural tannins of uncertain and somewhat variable chemical structure which are often highly coloured and used as dyes. The Giant Redwood Tree Sequoia sempervirens has red-coloured phlobaphenes as do certain varieties of highly-coloured Maize. There are several other sources of phlobaphenes and their other coloured cousins Kinotannins and Cinchotannic Acids.