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lobeleaf groundsel

roundleaf ragwort, running groundsel

Habit Biennials or perennials, 20–40+ cm; taprooted (caudices ascending to erect, weakly branched). Perennials, 20–50+ cm; stoloniferous and rhizomatous (rhizomes horizontal to suberect).
Stems

1 or 2–5, loosely clustered, usually glabrous or glabrescent, sometimes sparsely tomentose throughout, axils (basal leaves) tomentose.

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

Basal leaves

(and proximal cauline) petiolate;

blades obovate, oblanceolate, spatulate, or lyrate to sublyrate (± pinnately lobed, lateral lobes 3–6 pairs, smaller than terminal lobes), 40–80+ × 10–30+ mm, bases tapering, ultimate margins incised to 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).

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

Peduncles

conspicuously bracteate, glabrous or tomentose.

bracteate, glabrous or proximally tomentose.

Ray florets

8–13;

corolla laminae 7–10 mm.

8–13(–21);

corolla laminae 7–10 mm.

Disc florets

40–50+;

corolla tubes 4–5 mm, limbs 3–4 mm.

40–50+;

corolla tubes 2–3 mm, limbs 2–3 mm.

Phyllaries

13–21, green (tips often yellow), 4–9+ mm, glabrous or sparsely tomentose (at least proximally).

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

Calyculi

conspicuous.

conspicuous.

Heads

10–30+ in open, corymbiform or subumbelliform arrays.

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

Cypselae

2–3 mm, glabrous or hirtellous on ribs;

pappi 5–6 mm.

1–1.5 mm, glabrous or hirsute on ribs;

pappi 3–6 mm.

2n

= 46, 92.

= 44, 88, 90.

Packera multilobata

Packera obovata

Phenology Flowering early May–mid Jul. Flowering late Feb–Apr (south), early Apr–early Jun (north).
Habitat Dry rocky or sandy soils in sagebrush, woodlands, and subalpine areas Meadows in deciduous woodlands, wet ditches, stream banks, rocky hillsides
Elevation 1200–2900 m (3900–9500 ft) 0–2500 m (0–8200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; 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 multilobata is abundant and widespread west of the Continental Divide. Both morphology and habitat vary. In colder parts of its range, plants are shorter, caudices are better developed with clustered stems, and leaf lobes are larger. In desert-like habitats, basal leaves are narrower and more finely lobed, the tomentum is often persistent, and stems are usually single.

(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. 592. 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. 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. 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 multilobatus, Senecio leucoreus, Senecio lynceus, Senecio nelsonii var. uintahensis, Senecio prolixus, Senecio stygius, Senecio thornberi, Senecio uintahensis Senecio obovatus, Senecio aureus var. obovatus, Senecio elliottii, Senecio elongatus, Senecio rotundus
Name authority (Torrey & A. Gray) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 47. (1981) (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 47. (1981)
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