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 Leaves Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) |  Plants Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) | | | | |
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Origin:
Native
Life Cycle:
Perennial Similar Species: Packera neomexicana, P. cardamine, P. paupercula, P. plattensis
General Desc:
Perennial with 1 (often) or 2 to 3 stems. The stems have numerous larger leaves at the base that grow progressively smaller and more sparse up the stem. Small, yellow daisy-like flower heads grow upright in open clusters of 3 to 9 at the stem tips.
Identification notes: Stems, leaf axils usually have long white hairs; basal leaf margins toothed; stem leaves gradually reduced up the stem; flower heads, yellow, 3 to 9 per rounded cluster, stalks, loosely hairy or without hairs, ray flowers 8 to 13, disc flowers to 65+.
Height:
To 28 inches
Habitat Description: Open habitats, mountains, meadows, streambanks, woodlands.
Plant Communities:
Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest, Riparian
Elevation: 4000 - 8000 feet
Color:
Yellow
Shape:
Daisy or dandelion-like in round clusters
Tubular:
N
Flowering Period:
May - Aug
Description:
Each flower head consists of 65+ tube-like flowers (disc flowers) encircled by 8 to 13 strap-shaped flowers (ray flowers). Each floret is 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. Beneath each flower head are whorls of green leaf-like bracts, the outer ones with fine hairs.
Leaf Color:
Green
Leaf Type:
Simple
Leaf Shape:
Round or oval
Leaf Margin:
Toothed
Leaf Attachment:
Basal and alternate
Leaves Clasp:
N
Hairs:
Leaves and stems
Spines:
N
Leaf Description:
Basal leaves are oval to egg-shaped, up to 1 inch long and 3/4 inch wide and grow in a clump. Upper stem leaves are smaller and sparse. Long white hairs often cover the stems, leaves and leaf axils (between the stem and the leaf) but these wither quickly.
Fruit Color: Light yellowish-brown
Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: The fruit is about 1/16 inch long, 1-seeded, smooth, dry and does not release the seed when ripe. It has a tuft of white bristle-like hairs at its tip (pappus) which is about 1/4 inch long and aids in wind dispersal of the seed.
Seed Notes: 1 seed is produced. It has a seed coat on its surface that is attached to the thin dry wall of the fruit (husk) by a short stalk allowing the seed to be easily freed from the husk.
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