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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Mountain Arnica
Arnica latifolia Bong.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Composite (Compositae)
Flowering: June-August
Field Marks: This plant differs from other species of Arnica by its sessile cauline leaves, 1-3 flowering heads, basal leaves that are not heart-shaped at the base, and brown achenes.
Habitat: Moist forests and wet meadows in the mountains.
Habit: Perennial herb with slender, elongated rhizomes.
Stems: Upright, up to 2 feet tall, mostly smooth.
Leaves: Basal and cauline, sometimes glandular, sometimes hairy, toothed, the basal ones ovate to lanceolate, usually pointed at the tip, truncate or rounded at the base but not heart-shaped, up to 10 inches long, with a distinct stalk, the caul
Flowers: Several crowded together into usually 1-3 heads; each head up to 2 inches across, subtended by lanceolate, pointed, green, usually hairy and often glandular bracts, with 8-12 yellow rays and central yellow disk.
Sepals: 0.
Petals: Some united to form yellow rays 1/2-1 inch long, others united to form yellow tubular flowers in a central disk.
Stamens: 5.
Pistils: Ovary inferior.
Fruits: Achenes brown, smooth or minutely hairy, with a tuft of white hairs.
Notes: At higher elevations, a dwarf variation of this plant occurs. It is sometimes referred to as var. gracilis.

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Return to Species List -- Group 7
Next Species -- Seep Spring Arnica (Arnica longifolia)

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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:26:56 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww55]