Packera streptanthifolia |
Packera crocata |
|
---|---|---|
cleft-leaf groundsel, Rocky Mountain butterweed, Rocky Mountain groundsel |
saffron ragwort |
|
Habit | Perennials, 10–50+ cm; fibrous-rooted (caudices weak to stout, horizontal to suberect). | Perennials, 20–60+ cm; perennating bases horizontal to ascending (relatively long and stout). |
Stems | 1 or 2–5, clustered, usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely floccose-tomentose proximally and in leaf axils. |
usually 1, rarely 2–3, clustered, glabrous. |
Basal leaves | (and proximal cauline, relatively thick and turgid) petiolate; blades spatulate to oblanceolate, or ovate to orbiculate, 20–40+ × 10–30+ mm, bases tapering to abruptly contracted or subcordate, margins entire, crenate, dentate, or weakly lobulate (faces usually glabrous, sometimes hairy). |
(and proximal cauline) petiolate (petioles narrow); blades narrowly lanceolate or ovate to oblong-ovate, 20–60+ × 10–40+ mm, bases abruptly contracted to tapering, margins subentire to crenate-dentate. |
Cauline leaves | gradually to abruptly reduced (± petiolate or sessile; entire or subentire). |
gradually reduced (sessile, weakly clasping; lanceolate to oblong or sublyrate, often pinnately lobed). |
Peduncles | bracteate, glabrous or sparsely tomentose. |
ebracteate or bracteate (bractlets inconspicuous), glabrous. |
Ray florets | 8 or 13; corolla laminae 5–10 mm. |
8 or 13; corolla laminae (deep yellow to orange-red) 6–8+ mm. |
Disc florets | 35–60+; corolla tubes 2–4 mm, limbs 2.5–4 mm. |
60–80+; corolla tubes 4.5–5.5 mm, limbs 2.5–3.5 mm. |
Phyllaries | (8–)13 or 21, green (tips sometimes cyanic), 4–7+ mm, glabrous. |
13 or 21, light green (or tips cyanic), 4–8 mm, glabrous. |
Calyculi | conspicuous. |
0 or inconspicuous. |
Heads | 2–20+ in loose, corymbiform or subumbelliform arrays. |
7–15+ in open, corymbiform arrays. |
Cypselae | 1–2.5 mm, glabrous; pappi 3–6 mm. |
1–1.5 mm, glabrous; pappi 3–5 mm. |
2n | = 46, 92. |
= 46. |
Packera streptanthifolia |
Packera crocata |
|
Phenology | Flowering late May–late Aug. | Flowering early Jul–mid Aug. |
Habitat | Forests, open meadows, valleys, dry to damp and loamy soils | Wet meadows, along trails, rocky outcrops |
Elevation | 1000–3400 m (3300–11200 ft) | 1800–3500 m (5900–11500 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC; NT; SK; YT
|
CO; ID; NM; NV; UT; WY
|
Discussion | Packera streptanthifolia is widespread and variable throughout the Western Cordillera. It includes weakly defined phases that have been treated as distinct species or as varieties. Characteristics used to delimit those taxa often overlap and are difficult to score; some “phases” grade into each other. Northern populations are sometimes segregated as a distinct taxon (e.g., Senecio streptanthifolia var. borealis; J. F. Bain 1988). (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Packera crocata is characterized by deep yellow to reddish orange corollas. Some collectors have noted that there may be evidence for hybridization between P. crocata and P. dimorphophylla; the relationship between the two species needs further study. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 20, p. 599. | FNA vol. 20, p. 583. |
Parent taxa | Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera | Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Packera |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Senecio streptanthifolius, P. streptanthifolia var. borealis, Senecio adamsii, Senecio aureus var. borealis, Senecio cognatus, Senecio cymbalarioides, Senecio cymbalarioides var. borealis, Senecio cymbalarioides var. streptanthifolius, Senecio fulgens, Senecio jonesii, Senecio leonardii, Senecio longipetiolatus, Senecio oödes, Senecio platylobus, Senecio rydbergii, Senecio streptanthifolius var. borealis, Senecio streptanthifolius var. kluanei, Senecio streptanthifolius var. laetiflorus, Senecio streptanthifolius var. oödes, Senecio streptanthifolius var. rubricaulis, Senecio streptanthifolius var. wallowensis, Senecio subcuneatus, Senecio suksdorfii, Senecio wardii | Senecio crocatus, Senecio pyrrhochrous, Senecio tracyi |
Name authority | (Greene) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 48. (1981) | (Rydberg) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 46. (1981) |
Web links |