The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

threetooth ragwort

lobeleaf groundsel

Habit Perennials, 10–30+ cm; taprooted (caudices ascending to erect). Biennials or perennials, 20–40+ cm; taprooted (caudices ascending to erect, weakly branched).
Stems

1 or multiple, clustered, usually glabrous, rarely sparsely floccose-tomentose, leaf axils sometimes tomentose.

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

Basal leaves

(and proximal cauline, relatively thick and turgid) petiolate;

blades lanceolate or narrowly oblanceolate, 20–40+ × 5–15 mm, bases tapering, margins usually entire, sometimes sub-pinnatisect (apices subentire or dentate).

(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.

Cauline leaves

gradually reduced (± petiolate or sessile).

gradually reduced (sessile).

Peduncles

bracteate, glabrous or sparsely tomentose.

conspicuously bracteate, glabrous or tomentose.

Ray florets

8–10(–13);

corolla laminae 5–8+ mm.

8–13;

corolla laminae 7–10 mm.

Disc florets

45–60+;

corolla tubes 3–3.5 mm, limbs 4–5 mm.

40–50+;

corolla tubes 4–5 mm, limbs 3–4 mm.

Phyllaries

13 or 21, green, 6–10 mm, sparsely tomentose proximally, glabrous distally.

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

Calyculi

inconspicuous.

conspicuous.

Heads

4–15+ in corymbiform arrays.

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

Cypselae

1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous or sparsely hirtellous on ribs;

pappi 5–6 mm.

2–3 mm, glabrous or hirtellous on ribs;

pappi 5–6 mm.

2n

= 46.

= 46, 92.

Packera tridenticulata

Packera multilobata

Phenology Flowering late May–early Jul. Flowering early May–mid Jul.
Habitat Open, dry areas, roadsides, gravelly or sandy slopes, short-grass prairies or sagebrush scrubs Dry rocky or sandy soils in sagebrush, woodlands, and subalpine areas
Elevation 1000–2000 m (3300–6600 ft) 1200–2900 m (3900–9500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; KS; ND; NE; NM; OK; SD; TX; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; NM; NV; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Packera tridenticulata is found throughout the central High Plains, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and in high valleys to the west of the Rocky Mountain front. It tends to grow in clumps; the multiple stems arise from well-developed taproots. It apparently hybridizes with P. neomexicana var. mutabilis where their ranges overlap.

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

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.)

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 601. FNA vol. 20, p. 592.
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. 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. 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. 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 tridenticulatus, Senecio acutidens, Senecio compactus, Senecio densus, Senecio oblanceolatus Senecio multilobatus, Senecio leucoreus, Senecio lynceus, Senecio nelsonii var. uintahensis, Senecio prolixus, Senecio stygius, Senecio thornberi, Senecio uintahensis
Name authority (Rydberg) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 48. (1981) (Torrey & A. Gray) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve: Phytologia 49: 47. (1981)
Web links