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Bolander's groundsel, Bolander's ragwort

Piedmont ragwort

Habit Perennials, 20–50+ cm; fibrous-rooted (caudices creeping). Perennials, 25–60+ cm; fibrous-rooted (caudices branched).
Stems

1 or 2–3, loosely clustered, glabrous.

1 or 2–3, clustered, glabrous or leaf axils sparsely hairy.

Basal leaves

(and proximal cauline) petiolate;

blades ± orbiculate to oblong, or lyrate (lateral lobes 1–3 pairs, sinuses usually rounded, midribs usually winged), 50–120+ × 30–70+ mm, bases cordate to subcordate, margins shallowly to deeply incised.

(and proximal cauline) petiolate;

blades narrowly ovate to ovate (2–3 times pinnately dissected, ultimate lobes mostly linear to filiform), 50–80 × 30–50 mm, bases ± truncate or auriculate, ultimate margins entire or remotely dentate.

Cauline leaves

gradually reduced (petiolate or sessile and clasping; lanceolate, incised).

gradually reduced (petiolate or sessile, similar to basals).

Peduncles

ebracteate or inconspicuously bracteate, glabrous.

bracteate or ebracteate, glabrous.

Ray florets

8 or 13;

corolla laminae 10–15+ mm.

8–10(–13);

corolla laminae 8–12 mm.

Disc florets

30–45+;

corolla tubes 3–4 mm, limbs 3.5–4.5 mm.

35–50+;

corolla tubes 2–3 mm, limbs 1.5–2.5 mm.

Phyllaries

(8), 13, or 21, dark green, 5–8 mm, glabrous or sparsely tomentose proximally.

(13–)21, green, 4–6 mm, glabrous (tips sometimes hair-tufted).

Calyculi

conspicuous.

0.

Heads

8–15+ in corymbiform or subumbelliform arrays.

10–30+ in open, corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous;

pappi 5–7 mm.

0.75–1.5 mm, hairy on ribs;

pappi 3–4 mm.

2n

= 46.

Packera bolanderi

Packera millefolium

Phenology Flowering early May–mid Jun.
Habitat Open areas along streams, rock outcrops in thin, granitic-derived soils
Elevation 400–900 m (1300–3000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; OR; WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
GA; NC; SC; VA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

The two varieties of Packera bolanderi have been treated as species. The morphologic characteristics used to distinguish the varieties vary widely within some populations. Presence or absence of multicellular hairs has been used to separate the varieties; that trait is also variable. The morphologic distinction is weak; habitat and elevation records lend support for recognizing two varieties.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Of conservation concern.

Packera millefolia is known only from granitic soils in the southern Appalachians. It is similar in overall aspect to the widespread P. anonyma; it differs by its 2–3 times pinnately dissected leaves.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Basal leaves (relatively thick and turgid); phyllaries 13 or 21, 6–8+ mm, hairy proximally (hairs tan or brownish, multicelled)
var. bolanderi
1. Basal leaves (relatively thin); phyllaries 8, 13, (or 21), 5–6 mm, glabrous
var. harfordii
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 579. FNA vol. 20, p. 591.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera
Sibling taxa
P. anonyma, P. antennariifolia, P. aurea, P. bernardina, P. breweri, P. cana, P. cardamine, P. castoreus, P. clevelandii, P. contermina, P. crocata, P. cymbalaria, P. cynthioides, P. debilis, P. dimorphophylla, P. eurycephala, P. fendleri, P. flettii, P. franciscana, P. ganderi, P. glabella, P. greenei, P. hartiana, P. hesperia, P. hyperborealis, P. indecora, P. ionophylla, P. layneae, P. macounii, P. malmstenii, P. millefolium, P. millelobata, P. multilobata, P. musiniensis, P. neomexicana, P. obovata, P. ogotorukensis, P. pauciflora, P. paupercula, P. plattensis, P. porteri, P. pseudaurea, P. quercetorum, P. sanguisorboides, P. schweinitziana, P. spellenbergii, P. streptanthifolia, P. subnuda, P. tampicana, P. texensis, P. tomentosa, P. tridenticulata, P. werneriifolia
P. anonyma, P. antennariifolia, P. aurea, P. bernardina, P. bolanderi, P. breweri, P. cana, P. cardamine, P. castoreus, P. clevelandii, P. contermina, P. crocata, P. cymbalaria, P. cynthioides, P. debilis, P. dimorphophylla, P. eurycephala, P. fendleri, P. flettii, P. franciscana, P. ganderi, P. glabella, P. greenei, P. hartiana, P. hesperia, P. hyperborealis, P. indecora, P. ionophylla, P. layneae, P. macounii, P. malmstenii, P. millelobata, P. multilobata, P. musiniensis, P. neomexicana, P. obovata, P. ogotorukensis, P. pauciflora, P. paupercula, P. plattensis, P. porteri, P. pseudaurea, P. quercetorum, P. sanguisorboides, P. schweinitziana, P. spellenbergii, P. streptanthifolia, P. subnuda, P. tampicana, P. texensis, P. tomentosa, P. tridenticulata, P. werneriifolia
Subordinate taxa
P. bolanderi var. bolanderi, P. bolanderi var. harfordii
Synonyms Senecio bolanderi Senecio millefolium, Senecio memmingeri
Name authority (A. Gray) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 45. (1981) (Torrey & A. Gray) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 47. (1981)
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