Packera subnuda
Encyclopedia
Packera subnuda is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common names Buek's groundsel and cleftleaf groundsel. It is native to western North America from the Northwest Territories
to northern California
to Wyoming
, where it grows in high mountain meadows in subalpine
and alpine climate
s.
It is a perennial herb producing one erect stem or a small cluster of 2 or 3 stems from a rhizome
and/or fibrous root system. The stems grow 5 to about 30 centimeters tall. The basal leaves have fleshy oval blades up to 3 or 4 centimeters long borne on petioles
, with leaves farther up the stem smaller and simpler.
The inflorescence
is a single flower head
, or occasionally two to five heads. Each is lined with reddish or green phyllaries
with green or bluish tips. The head contains many golden yellow disc florets and usually 13 yellow ray florets each roughly a centimeter long.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common names Buek's groundsel and cleftleaf groundsel. It is native to western North America from the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, where it grows in high mountain meadows in subalpine
Subalpine
The subalpine zone is the biotic zone immediately below tree line around the world. Species that occur in this zone depend on the location of the zone on the Earth, for example, Snow Gum in Australia, or Subalpine Larch, Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir in western North America.Trees in the...
and alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
s.
It is a perennial herb producing one erect stem or a small cluster of 2 or 3 stems from a rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
and/or fibrous root system. The stems grow 5 to about 30 centimeters tall. The basal leaves have fleshy oval blades up to 3 or 4 centimeters long borne on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
, with leaves farther up the stem smaller and simpler.
The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a single flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
, or occasionally two to five heads. Each is lined with reddish or green phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
with green or bluish tips. The head contains many golden yellow disc florets and usually 13 yellow ray florets each roughly a centimeter long.