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saffron ragwort

roundleaf ragwort, running groundsel

Habit Perennials, 20–60+ cm; perennating bases horizontal to ascending (relatively long and stout). Perennials, 20–50+ cm; stoloniferous and rhizomatous (rhizomes horizontal to suberect).
Stems

usually 1, rarely 2–3, clustered, glabrous.

1 or multiple, loosely clustered, usually glabrous, sometimes tomentose proximally and in leaf axils.

Basal leaves

(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.

(and proximal cauline) petiolate;

blades orbiculate, ovate, or obovate, 40–100+ × 20–80+ mm, bases tapering, rounded, or abruptly contracted, margins crenate, dentate, or serrate.

Cauline leaves

gradually reduced (sessile, weakly clasping; lanceolate to oblong or sublyrate, often pinnately lobed).

gradually reduced (sessile, clasping; pinnatisect or sublyrate).

Peduncles

ebracteate or bracteate (bractlets inconspicuous), glabrous.

bracteate, glabrous or proximally tomentose.

Ray florets

8 or 13;

corolla laminae (deep yellow to orange-red) 6–8+ mm.

8–13(–21);

corolla laminae 7–10 mm.

Disc florets

60–80+;

corolla tubes 4.5–5.5 mm, limbs 2.5–3.5 mm.

40–50+;

corolla tubes 2–3 mm, limbs 2–3 mm.

Phyllaries

13 or 21, light green (or tips cyanic), 4–8 mm, glabrous.

13 or 21, green (tips sometimes reddish), 3–6 mm, glabrous or floccose-tomentose proximally.

Calyculi

0 or inconspicuous.

conspicuous.

Heads

7–15+ in open, corymbiform arrays.

6–15+ in open or congested, corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

1–1.5 mm, glabrous;

pappi 3–5 mm.

1–1.5 mm, glabrous or hirsute on ribs;

pappi 3–6 mm.

2n

= 46.

= 44, 88, 90.

Packera crocata

Packera obovata

Phenology Flowering early Jul–mid Aug. Flowering late Feb–Apr (south), early Apr–early Jun (north).
Habitat Wet meadows, along trails, rocky outcrops Meadows in deciduous woodlands, wet ditches, stream banks, rocky hillsides
Elevation 1800–3500 m (5900–11500 ft) 0–2500 m (0–8200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; ID; NM; NV; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; CT; FL; GA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; MI; MO; MS; NC; NH; NJ; NM; NY; OH; OK; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; VT; WV; ON; QC; Mexico (Coahuila)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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 obovata forms relatively large, stoloniferous colonies in wet sites.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 583. FNA vol. 20, p. 594.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera
Sibling taxa
P. anonyma, P. antennariifolia, P. aurea, P. bernardina, P. bolanderi, P. breweri, P. cana, P. cardamine, P. castoreus, P. clevelandii, P. contermina, 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. millefolium, P. millelobata, P. multilobata, P. musiniensis, P. neomexicana, 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
Synonyms Senecio crocatus, Senecio pyrrhochrous, Senecio tracyi Senecio obovatus, Senecio aureus var. obovatus, Senecio elliottii, Senecio elongatus, Senecio rotundus
Name authority (Rydberg) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 46. (1981) (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 47. (1981)
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