OregonFlora species comparison

Steep, alpine talus slopes. Flowering Jul–Aug. 2100–2500 m. BW. WA; CO. Native.

Only a single collection locality for Packera porteri is known from Oregon. In August of 1899, W.C. Cusick collected several duplicates of this species from “alpine ridges of the Wallowa Mountains, near the lake.” He noted at the time that “few plants were seen.” It has not been collected there since, although there is one additional observation from 1978. This species is more frequently collected (although still rare) on high peaks in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado, nearly always being collected at over 3,600 m. Packera porteri is likely infrequently collected because it occurs only on steep talus slopes, using extensive fleshy rhizomes to find purchase in a precarious habitat. In this author’s opinion, it is one of the most interesting and elusive species in the genus and certainly worthy of concerted efforts to determine its current conservation status.