Packera obovata |
Packera cynthioides |
|
---|---|---|
roundleaf ragwort, running groundsel |
White Mountain ragwort |
|
Habit | Perennials, 20–50+ cm; stoloniferous and rhizomatous (rhizomes horizontal to suberect). | Perennials, 20–40+ cm; rhizomatous (rhizomes horizontal to erect). |
Stems | 1 or multiple, loosely clustered, usually glabrous, sometimes tomentose proximally and in leaf axils. |
1 or 2–3, clustered, densely lanate-tomentose or canescent, tufts of arachnoid tomentum in leaf axils, or glabrescent. |
Basal leaves | (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. |
(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). |
Cauline leaves | gradually reduced (sessile, clasping; pinnatisect or sublyrate). |
gradually reduced (sessile; lanceolate to oblanceolate, entire or wavy). |
Peduncles | bracteate, glabrous or proximally tomentose. |
0 (or relatively reduced, then densely tomentose). |
Ray florets | 8–13(–21); corolla laminae 7–10 mm. |
(5–)8; corolla laminae 8–10+ mm. |
Disc florets | 40–50+; corolla tubes 2–3 mm, limbs 2–3 mm. |
35–45+; corolla tubes 2.5–3.5 mm, limbs 3.5–4.5 mm. |
Phyllaries | 13 or 21, green (tips sometimes reddish), 3–6 mm, glabrous or floccose-tomentose proximally. |
(8–)13, green (tips red), 3–6 mm, densely tomentose proximally, glabrate distally. |
Calyculi | conspicuous. |
inconspicuous (bractlets red-tipped). |
Heads | 6–15+ in open or congested, corymbiform arrays. |
10–30+ in open or congested, cymiform arrays. |
Cypselae | 1–1.5 mm, glabrous or hirsute on ribs; pappi 3–6 mm. |
1–1.5 mm, glabrous; pappi 5–6 mm. |
2n | = 44, 88, 90. |
= 46. |
Packera obovata |
Packera cynthioides |
|
Phenology | Flowering late Feb–Apr (south), early Apr–early Jun (north). | Flowering late Jul–mid Sep. |
Habitat | Meadows in deciduous woodlands, wet ditches, stream banks, rocky hillsides | Loose rocky soils, steep slopes, subalpine and pine-juniper forests |
Elevation | 0–2500 m (0–8200 ft) | 2200–2900 m (7200–9500 ft) |
Distribution |
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)
|
NM
|
Discussion | Packera obovata forms relatively large, stoloniferous colonies in wet sites. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
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.) |
Source | FNA vol. 20, p. 594. | FNA vol. 20, p. 583. |
Parent taxa | Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera | Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Senecio obovatus, Senecio aureus var. obovatus, Senecio elliottii, Senecio elongatus, Senecio rotundus | Senecio cynthioides, Senecio fendleri var. subintegra, Senecio wrightii |
Name authority | (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 47. (1981) | (Greene) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 46. (1981) |
Web links |