aphanes (parsley-piert) is a genus of around 20 species in the rose family (rosaceae), native to europe, asia and australia. a 2003 study indicated that "aphanes" may belong to the genus "alchemilla", commonly called lady's-mantle. they are slender, annual prostrate herbs, much-branched with deeply lobed leaves, pilose (covered with soft hair) and on short petioles. the tiny green to yellow flowers without petals grow in clusters in the denticulate leaflike stipules.