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roundleaf ragwort, running groundsel

butterweed

Habit Perennials, 20–50+ cm; stoloniferous and rhizomatous (rhizomes horizontal to suberect). Annuals or biennials, 20–70+ cm; fibrous-rooted (caudices relatively short, weak).
Stems

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

1 (striated, frequently hollow, often pink- to purple-tinged), glabrous or leaf axils sparsely tomentose.

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.

(and proximal cauline) obscurely petiolate;

blades obovate to oblanceolate, sometimes lyrate (lateral lobes to 5 pairs, terminal lobes larger than laterals), 50–150+ × 10–30+ mm, bases tapering, ultimate margins crenate to irregularly undulate.

Cauline leaves

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

gradually reduced (weakly clasping, similar to basal).

Peduncles

bracteate, glabrous or proximally tomentose.

bracteate, glabrous or bases tomentose.

Ray florets

8–13(–21);

corolla laminae 7–10 mm.

(8–)13;

corolla laminae 7–9 mm.

Disc florets

40–50+;

corolla tubes 2–3 mm, limbs 2–3 mm.

35–50+;

corolla tubes 2.5–3.5 mm, limbs 2–3 mm.

Phyllaries

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

(13–)21, green, 5–7 mm, glabrous.

Calyculi

conspicuous.

conspicuous (bractlets 2.5–4 mm).

Heads

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

8–30+ in umbelliform or cymiform arrays (robust plants with multiple arrays).

Cypselae

1–1.5 mm, glabrous or hirsute on ribs;

pappi 3–6 mm.

1–1.5 mm, sparsely hirtellous on ribs or glabrous;

pappi 3–4 mm.

2n

= 44, 88, 90.

= 46.

Packera obovata

Packera glabella

Phenology Flowering late Feb–Apr (south), early Apr–early Jun (north). Flowering (Feb–)mid Mar–late May.
Habitat Meadows in deciduous woodlands, wet ditches, stream banks, rocky hillsides Open wet areas, edges of woodlands, stream banks, roadsides, meadows, marshes, fallow fields
Elevation 0–2500 m (0–8200 ft) 0–600 m (0–2000 ft)
Distribution
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)
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from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MO; MS; NC; NE; OH; OK; SC; TN; TX
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Packera obovata forms relatively large, stoloniferous colonies in wet sites.

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

Packera glabella is common and almost weedy in wet, partially shaded places. The hollow, striated stems of P. glabella are distinctive.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 594. FNA vol. 20, p. 588.
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. 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
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. 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
Synonyms Senecio obovatus, Senecio aureus var. obovatus, Senecio elliottii, Senecio elongatus, Senecio rotundus Senecio glabellus, Senecio carolinianus, Senecio densiflorus, Senecio lobatus, Senecio lyratus, Senecio mississipianus
Name authority (Muhlenberg ex Willdenow) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 47. (1981) (Poiret) C. Jeffrey: Kew Bull. 47: 101. (1992)
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