Packera cynthioides
Packera cymbalaria
White Mountain ragwort
dwarf arctic groundsel, dwarf arctic ragwort, northern butterweed
1 or 2–3, clustered, densely lanate-tomentose or canescent, tufts of arachnoid tomentum in leaf axils, or glabrescent.
usually 1 (sometimes more, clustered), usually glabrous, sometimes bases and leaf axils 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 ovate to obovate, lyrate, or reniform, 10–30+ × 10–25+ mm, bases cuneate (sometimes tapering to winged petioles) to subcordate or contracted, margins crenate, dentate, or weakly lobed.
gradually reduced (sessile; lanceolate to oblanceolate, entire or wavy).
abruptly reduced (sessile, not clasping; lanceolate, entire or pinnately lobed to pinnatisect).
0 (or relatively reduced, then densely tomentose).
0 or relatively reduced (then densely tomentose).
(5–)8;
corolla laminae 8–10+ mm.
0 or 11–13;
corolla laminae (yellow, purple streaks in veins) 10–14+ mm.
35–45+;
corolla tubes 2.5–3.5 mm, limbs 3.5–4.5 mm.
60–75+;
corolla tubes 2–2.5 mm, limbs 4–5 mm.
(8–)13, green (tips red), 3–6 mm, densely tomentose proximally, glabrate distally.
21, deep red or green (tips red), 6–8 mm, glabrous.
inconspicuous (bractlets red-tipped).
conspicuous (bractlets cyanic).
10–30+ in open or congested, cymiform arrays.
1–2.
1–1.5 mm, glabrous;
pappi 5–6 mm.
1.5–2 mm, glabrous;
pappi 5–6 mm.
= 46.
= 46, 92, 138.
Packera cynthioides
Packera cymbalaria
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 cymbalaria occurs in three, disjunct regions: western Alaska eastward into western N.W.T. and south into northwestern British Columbia; Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec; and Siberia. Considerable morphologic overlap exists between western and eastern populations in North America; western populations have slightly different flavonoid chemistries and chromosome numbers. Western populations are either diploid or tetraploid; eastern populations are hexaploid. The correct name for this species may prove to be Packera heterophylla (Fischer) E. Wiebe, based on Cineraria heterophylla Fischer.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
BC
PNW Herbaria
