Packera cynthioides
Packera antennariifolia
White Mountain ragwort
shale barren ragwort
1 or 2–3, clustered, densely lanate-tomentose or canescent, tufts of arachnoid tomentum in leaf axils, or glabrescent.
1 (sometimes from rosettes, rosettes sometimes clustered), tomentose.
(thick, leathery) petiolate;
blades narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, 25–100+ × 5–20 mm, bases tapering, margins entire, subentire, dentate, or wavy (adaxial faces early glabrescent).
petiolate;
blades broadly lanceolate to elliptic or spatulate, 20–40+ × 10–20+ mm, bases tapering, margins entire or subentire to dentate distally (faces tomentose).
gradually reduced (sessile; lanceolate to oblanceolate, entire or wavy).
abruptly reduced (petiolate or sessile; narrowly lanceolate to sublyrate, sharply toothed to pinnatisect or entire).
0 (or relatively reduced, then densely tomentose).
bracteate, densely lanate to sparsely tomentose.
(5–)8;
corolla laminae 8–10+ mm.
8–10(–13);
corolla laminae 5–10 mm.
35–45+;
corolla tubes 2.5–3.5 mm, limbs 3.5–4.5 mm.
25–35+;
corolla tubes 3–4 mm, limbs 1.5–2 mm.
(8–)13, green (tips red), 3–6 mm, densely tomentose proximally, glabrate distally.
13 or 21, green, 5–7 mm, densely tomentose (apices scarious).
inconspicuous (bractlets red-tipped).
inconspicuous.
10–30+ in open or congested, cymiform arrays.
6–12+ in corymbiform arrays (lateral cymiform arrays sometimes originating in leaf axils).
1–1.5 mm, glabrous;
pappi 5–6 mm.
1–1.5 mm, hirtellous on ribs;
pappi 4–5 mm.
= 46.
= 46.
Packera cynthioides
Packera antennariifolia
Packera cynthioides blooms later than other Packera species at the same latitudes. It is noted by collectors as usually growing on north- or west-facing slopes in limestone-derived soils. Its cauline leaves are well developed and held at a shallow angle to the stem, giving the plant a more “leafy” aspect than other members of the genus.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Packera antennariifolia is known only from shale barrens or shale-derived soils in central Appalachia. Plants growing on steep slopes have stouter, more horizontal caudices and more extensive fibrous roots than specimens from other locations. Specimens from shale-derived soils, not growing directly on shale barrens, have weakly lobulate leaves and noticeably less hairiness.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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