Arnica chamissonis (Leafy Arnica) - photos and description
Stem leaf in
above photo
Bracts with
tuft of hairs at tip
General: Perennial plants with a stout, leafy stem. Plants downy hairy.
Flowers: Flower heads, yellow, 1- 7 from top leaf axils, we measured a flower head to 4 cm diameter. Petals with 2-3 teeth at apex. Bracts with a tuft of hairs at apex.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, lanceolate, only reduced at very top of stem. Leaves at top of stem clasp the stem. Leaf highlighted in photo above was 12 cm long and 27 mm wide (measurement includes petiole).
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 60 cm, we measured plants to 72 cm tall.
Habitat: Moist meadows and thickets, boreal forest.
Abundance: Listed as fairly common in Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Saskatchewan, however we've only seen it once.
Origin: Native.
How to identify this species of Arnica: Budd's Flora identifies this Arnica species by the tufts of hair on the bract tips; Taxonomic Reminder for Recognizing Saskatchewan Plants identifies it by stem leaves 3-5 pairs, not reduced upward.
When and where photographed: The above photos were taken July 27th moist thicket, Hudson Bay district, about 450 km northeast of our home in Regina, SK.