Packera crocata
Packera indecora
saffron ragwort
elegant groundsel, rayless mountain butterweed, rayless mountain groundsel, rayless mountain ragwort
usually 1, rarely 2–3, clustered, glabrous.
1 or 2–3, loosely clustered, glabrous or glabrate.
(and proximal cauline) petiolate (petioles narrow);
blades narrowly lanceolate or ovate to oblong-ovate, 20–60+ × 10–40+ mm, bases abruptly contracted to tapering, margins subentire to crenate-dentate.
petiolate;
blades elliptic-ovate, oblong, or subreniform, 20–50 × 10–40+ mm, bases subcordate, truncate, or cuneate, margins usually crenate-dentate to coarsely dentate-lacerate, seldom subentire.
gradually reduced (sessile, weakly clasping; lanceolate to oblong or sublyrate, often pinnately lobed).
gradually reduced (petiolate, resembling basals, sublyrate or dissected; distal sessile, subentire to pinnatifid).
ebracteate or bracteate (bractlets inconspicuous), glabrous.
ebracteate (or bractlets inconspicuous), glabrous or glabrate.
8 or 13;
corolla laminae (deep yellow to orange-red) 6–8+ mm.
0 or 8–10;
corolla laminae (deep yellow) 3–5 mm.
60–80+;
corolla tubes 4.5–5.5 mm, limbs 2.5–3.5 mm.
60–70+;
corolla tubes 2–3 mm, limbs 2.5–3.5 mm.
13 or 21, light green (or tips cyanic), 4–8 mm, glabrous.
13 or 21, green (tips sometimes reddish), 7–9 mm, glabrous.
0 or inconspicuous.
conspicuous (bractlets green, tips sometimes reddish).
7–15+ in open, corymbiform arrays.
8–20+ in subumbelliform arrays.
1–1.5 mm, glabrous;
pappi 3–5 mm.
1–2 mm, glabrous;
pappi 3–4 mm.
= 46.
= 46, 126, 176, 184.
Packera crocata
Packera indecora
Packera crocata is characterized by deep yellow to reddish orange corollas. Some collectors have noted that there may be evidence for hybridization between P. crocata and P. dimorphophylla; the relationship between the two species needs further study.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Packera indecora is found at relatively low elevations in eastern Canada and at middle to subalpine elevations in the western cordillera. It closely resembles P. pauciflora and it is often difficult to identify specimens in the herbarium. Biosystematic studies (J. F. Bain and J. Whitton 1994) have indicated that although they are morphologically similar, P. indecora and P. pauciflora have distinctly different physiologies and should be maintained as distinct taxa.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
CalFlora
PNW Herbaria
SW CO Wildflowers
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database
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Flora NW
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