Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Packera quaerens, Senecio flavulus, S. hartianus, S. prionophyllus, S. quaerens
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Packera neomexicana, P. cardamine, P. paupercula, P. plattensis
Height
To 28 inches
Riparian
Yes
Perennial with 1 (often) or 2 to 3 stems. The stems have numerous larger leaves at the base that grow progressively smaller and more sparse up the stem. Small, yellow daisy-like flower heads grow upright in open clusters of 3 to 9 at the stem tips.
Stems, leaf axils usually have long white hairs; basal leaf margins toothed; stem leaves gradually reduced up the stem; flower heads, yellow, 3 to 9 per rounded cluster, stalks, loosely hairy or without hairs, ray flowers 8 to 13, disc flowers to 65+.
Habitat
Open habitats, mountains, meadows, streambanks, woodlands.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
Each flower head consists of 65+ tube-like flowers (disc flowers) encircled by 8 to 13 strap-shaped flowers (ray flowers). Each floret is 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. Beneath each flower head are whorls of green leaf-like bracts, the outer ones with fine hairs.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Basal leaves are oval to egg-shaped, up to 1 inch long and 3/4 inch wide and grow in a clump. Upper stem leaves are smaller and sparse. Long white hairs often cover the stems, leaves and leaf axils (between the stem and the leaf) but these wither quickly.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruit is about 1/16 inch long, 1-seeded, smooth, dry and does not release the seed when ripe. It has a tuft of white bristle-like hairs at its tip (pappus) which is about 1/4 inch long and aids in wind dispersal of the seed.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Light yellowish-brown
1 seed is produced. It has a seed coat on its surface that is attached to the thin dry wall of the fruit (husk) by a short stalk allowing the seed to be easily freed from the husk.