Arnica dealbata is a species of Californian plants in the tarweed tribe within the aster family[3][4]

Arnica dealbata
Arnica dealbata in Lassen National Forest (Plumas County, California)

Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Arnica
Species:
A. dealbata
Binomial name
Arnica dealbata
Synonyms[2]

Whitneya dealbata A.Gray

The species is known by the common name mock leopardbane.[5]

Distribution and habitat

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It is endemic to California, where it is known from the Sierra Nevada and the southernmost slopes of the Cascade Range.[5][6] It occurs in forest and meadow habitat in the mountains and foothills.

This plant is uncommon throughout its limited distribution and is listed as a sensitive species of Yosemite National Park, where it occurs in two locations.[7]

Description

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It is a hairy, glandular, rhizomatous perennial herb producing an erect stem up to about 35 centimeters tall. The leaves have lance-shaped or pointed oval blades up to 10 centimeters long which are borne on petioles. They are arranged in opposite pairs, mostly near the base of the stem. The blades are coated densely in short curly hairs, some glandular. The inflorescence is a solitary flower head or cluster of a few heads. The head contains up to 12 yellow ray florets up to 2.5 centimeters long with many yellow disc florets at the center.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  2. ^ The Plant List Arnica dealbata (A.Gray) B.G.Baldwin
  3. ^ Baldwin, B. G. and B. L. Wessa. (2000). Origin and relationships of the tarweed–silversword lineage (Compositae–Madiinae). American Journal of Botany 87 1890-1908.
  4. ^ Baldwin, Bruce G. 1999. New combinations in California Arnica and Monolopia (Compositae). Novon 9(4): 460-461
  5. ^ a b Calflora taxon report, University of California, Arnica dealbata (A. Gray) B.G. Baldw. mock leopardbane
  6. ^ Biota of North America program 2013 county distribution map
  7. ^ Hurteau, M. and M. North. (2009). Response of Arnica dealbata to climate change, nitrogen deposition, and fire. Plant Ecology 202 191-94.
  8. ^ "Arnica dealbata in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org.
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