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saffron ragwort

New England groundsel, Schweinitz's groundsel, Schweinitz's ragwort

Habit Perennials, 20–60+ cm; perennating bases horizontal to ascending (relatively long and stout). Perennials, 40–70+ cm, fibrous-rooted and/or rhizomatous (rhizomes weakly branched).
Stems

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

1, glabrous or leaf axils sparsely tomentose.

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 narrowly ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 30–70+ × 10–20+ mm, bases abruptly contracted to subcordate, margins usually serrate-dentate, sometimes subcrenate (apices acute).

Cauline leaves

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

gradually reduced (± sessile; lacerate to subcrenate).

Peduncles

ebracteate or bracteate (bractlets inconspicuous), glabrous.

bracteate, glabrous.

Ray florets

8 or 13;

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

8–13;

corolla laminae 4–7 mm.

Disc florets

60–80+;

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

50–70+;

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

Phyllaries

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

13 or 21, light green (tips sometimes black), 5–8 mm, glabrous.

Calyculi

0 or inconspicuous.

conspicuous.

Heads

7–15+ in open, corymbiform arrays.

8–20+ in loose, corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

1–1.5 mm, glabrous;

pappi 3–5 mm.

1–1.5 mm, glabrous;

pappi 5–5.5 mm.

2n

= 46.

= 44.

Packera crocata

Packera schweinitziana

Phenology Flowering early Jul–mid Aug. Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Wet meadows, along trails, rocky outcrops Sunny, wet areas, meadows, swamps, ditches, roadsides
Elevation 1800–3500 m (5900–11500 ft) 100–1800 m (300–5900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; ID; NM; NV; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ME; NC; NH; NY; TN; VT; NB; NS; PE; QC
[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 schweinitziana is rarely mistaken for any other taxon. It grows on slightly acidic soils and may reproduce vegetatively by branched rhizomes. The group of populations on Roan Mountain on the Tennessee-North Carolina border is disjunct from the main distribution.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 583. FNA vol. 20, p. 598.
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. obovata, P. ogotorukensis, P. pauciflora, P. paupercula, P. plattensis, P. porteri, P. pseudaurea, P. quercetorum, P. sanguisorboides, P. spellenbergii, P. streptanthifolia, P. subnuda, P. tampicana, P. texensis, P. tomentosa, P. tridenticulata, P. werneriifolia
Synonyms Senecio crocatus, Senecio pyrrhochrous, Senecio tracyi Senecio schweinitzianus, Senecio aureus var. lanceolatus, Senecio robbinsii
Name authority (Rydberg) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 46. (1981) (Nuttall) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 48. (1981)
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