Packera cana
Encyclopedia
Packera cana is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name woolly groundsel. It is native to western and central North America, where it can be found in a wide array of habitat types at all elevations from grassland
to the alpine climate
s of mountain peaks.
It is a perennial herb producing one erect stem from a rosette of basal leaves and a rhizome
system. It generally grows up to 40 centimeters in maximum height. It is a woolly plant, its herbage coated in whitish hairs. The basal leaves have lance-shaped to oval blades which may have smooth or toothed edges. They are a few centimeters long and are borne on petioles
. Leaves higher on the stem are smaller and simpler.
The inflorescence
contains several flower heads
, each lined with woolly green phyllaries
. The head contains many golden yellow disc florets and generally either 8 or 13 narrow yellow ray florets each up to a centimeter long. The fruit is an achene
around a centimeter long, including its pappus
of bristles.
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 name woolly groundsel. It is native to western and central North America, where it can be found in a wide array of habitat types at all elevations from grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
to the 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 of mountain peaks.
It is a perennial herb producing one erect stem from a rosette of basal leaves and 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...
system. It generally grows up to 40 centimeters in maximum height. It is a woolly plant, its herbage coated in whitish hairs. The basal leaves have lance-shaped to oval blades which may have smooth or toothed edges. They are a few centimeters long and are 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...
. Leaves higher on the stem are 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...
contains several flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
, each lined with woolly 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...
. The head contains many golden yellow disc florets and generally either 8 or 13 narrow yellow ray florets each up to a centimeter long. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
around a centimeter long, including its pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
of bristles.