Common name:
Alpine groundsel
Family:
Scientific name:
Packera pauciflora
Main flower color:
Range:
Scattered areas in California, southern Nevada and the northern Rocky Mountains
Height:
Up to 15 inches
Habitat:
Woodland, damp meadows, from near sea level to 9,000 feet
Leaves:
Hairless, elliptic to ovate, with toothed or shallowly lobed margins; up to 1.5 inches long. Basal leaves have long stalks; stem leaves are sessile
Season:
July to August
Packera pauciflora is one of the easiest members of this genus to identify since its disc florets are deep red in bud, becoming orange-yellow when mature. Plants may or may not also have ray florets. This species is found in widely separated areas of the West; in the Sierra Nevada of California, the mountains of central Colorado, scattered locations in Idaho, two regions in Wyoming, and in far north Washington.
All plant parts are essentially hairless. Leaves grow mostly at the base, where they have long stalks; stem leaves are reduced in size, sessile, and also more deeply toothed, or lobed. Flowerheads are held in small clusters, of up to six. Peduncles are ridged, and have a few bracteoles towards the top. There may be be a sparse tomentose hair covering, also towards the top. There are 13 or 21 phyllaries; they may be green or purplish. Disc florets number from 60 to 90, and, if present, ray florets from eight to 13.
All plant parts are essentially hairless. Leaves grow mostly at the base, where they have long stalks; stem leaves are reduced in size, sessile, and also more deeply toothed, or lobed. Flowerheads are held in small clusters, of up to six. Peduncles are ridged, and have a few bracteoles towards the top. There may be be a sparse tomentose hair covering, also towards the top. There are 13 or 21 phyllaries; they may be green or purplish. Disc florets number from 60 to 90, and, if present, ray florets from eight to 13.
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