Packera pseudaurea
Encyclopedia
Packera pseudaurea is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name falsegold groundsel. It is native to North America, where it can be found in western and central parts of Canada and the United States. It grows in mountain habitat such as meadows, streambanks, and woodlands.
It is a perennial herb producing usually one erect stem, sometimes a cluster of a few stems, up to about 70 centimeters in maximum height. The basal leaves have rounded, oval, or widely lance-shaped blades up to 10 centimeters long which are borne on very long petioles
. Leaves higher on the stem have no petioles, their bases clasping the stem. They are narrow and pointed with serrated edges. The inflorescence
bears several flower heads
in a loose or dense, flat-topped array. Each head is full of yellow disc florets and most heads have several yellow ray florets, though some heads lack them.
There are three varieties of this species: var. flavula occupies a long strip of mountains from Idaho
to New Mexico
, var. semicordata is mainly limited to the upper Midwest region, and var. pseudaurea is distributed throughout the western part of the species' range.
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 falsegold groundsel. It is native to North America, where it can be found in western and central parts of Canada and the United States. It grows in mountain habitat such as meadows, streambanks, and woodlands.
It is a perennial herb producing usually one erect stem, sometimes a cluster of a few stems, up to about 70 centimeters in maximum height. The basal leaves have rounded, oval, or widely lance-shaped blades up to 10 centimeters long which are borne on very long 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 have no petioles, their bases clasping the stem. They are narrow and pointed with serrated edges. 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...
bears 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....
in a loose or dense, flat-topped array. Each head is full of yellow disc florets and most heads have several yellow ray florets, though some heads lack them.
There are three varieties of this species: var. flavula occupies a long strip of mountains from Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, var. semicordata is mainly limited to the upper Midwest region, and var. pseudaurea is distributed throughout the western part of the species' range.