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Scientific Name | Packera crocata | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PACR5 |
Common Name | Saffron Ragwort, Saffron Groundsel | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 518143 |
Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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Description | Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (8500 to 13000 ft.); moist areas, bogs, stream banks, subalpine meadows. Plant: Erect perennial up 6 to 10 inches tall at high altitudes, up to 2 feet at lower elevations; one or rarely 2 or 3 stout, grooved, hairless stems. Leaves: Thick, fleshy and often lobed, lanceolate to ovate; lower leaves petiolate and up to 3 inches long; upper leaves much smaller and clasping. Inflorescence: Tight cluster of a few to several composite heads, up to 1-1/2 inches across; 8 to 13 yellow to orange rays with indented tips; dark orange disk florets; green phyllaries with dark red tips. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Packera fendleri | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PAFE4 |
Common Name | Fendler's Groundsel, Fendler's Ragwort | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 518146 |
Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (5000 to 11500); rocky, gravelly sites on hillsides, streambanks, disturbed areas, open forests.
Plant: Erect perennial 4 to 16 inches tall, single or multiple woolly stems. Leaves: Basal leaves are petiolate, blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 1 to 2-1/2 inches long, lobed or wavy edges; stem leaves similar, but sessile and smaller. Inflorescence: Open, corymb arrays of 6 to 25 heads with 6 to 8 yellow, backward-curving ray florets around a center of 30 to 45 yellow to brown disk florets. Bloom Period: May to September. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, www.americansouthwest.net and SEINet. | BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Packera pseudaurea var. flavula | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PAPSF |
Common Name | Falsegold Groundsel | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 526300 |
Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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Description | Life zones and habitat: Foothills and montane (5600 to 10500 ft.); moist meadows, stream banks, open areas. Plant: Erect perennial 12 to 28 inches tall, usually one, sometimes 2 to 4 smooth stems. Leaves: Basal leaves petiolate, blades broadly ovate sometimes nearly hastate, 3/4 to 2 inches long and 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches wide with bluntly-toothed margins; lower stem leaves petiolate, margins usually pinnatifid or laciniate, sometimes nearly smooth, gradually becoming smaller, sessile or clasping. Inflorescence: Open or congested corymb-like groups of 5 to 30 yellow composite flower heads; 0 to 13 rays, 70 to 80 yellow disk florets; smooth, linear, green phyllaries below. Bloom Period: May to July. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, SW Colorado Wildflowers, Senecio pseudaureus in New Manual of Botany of the Central Rocky Mountains by John M. Coulter, page 582; and Flora of North America. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Packera streptanthifolia | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PAST10 |
Common Name | Rocky Mountain Groundsel, Cleft-leaf Groundsel | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 518158 |
Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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Description | Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (6500 to 11500 ft.); woodlands and open areas. Plant: Erect perennial 4 to 20+ inches tall; 1 or a few smooth or slightly hairy stems. Leaves: Basal leaves spatulate to oblanceolate, or ovate to orbiculate, 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long and petiolate, edges smooth crenate, dentate, or weakly lobed; stem leaves much fewer and smaller, oblanceolate to more linear, toothed or cleft edges. Inflorescence: Cluster of a few to several composite heads about 1 inch across; 8 to 13 yellow to orange ray flowers with indented tips; dark orange disk florets; smooth green bracts sometimes purplish and hairy at the tips; bright white pappus hairs. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Burke Museum of Natural History and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Packera werneriifolia | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PAWE4 |
Common Name | Hoary Groundsel, Alpine Rock Groundsel | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 518160 |
Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Subalpine and alpine (6500 to 14100 ft.); open, rocky areas in meadows and openings.
Plant: Erect perennial 3 to 6 inches tall; woolly, often reddish stem. Leaves: Mostly basal; fleshy, thick, narrow to elliptic or ovate, may be woolly underneath, up to 1-1/2 inches long and petiolate. Inflorescence: Cluster of a few composite heads less than 1 inch across; 8 to 13 yellow rays with indented tips; darker yellow disk florets. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |