Arnica spathulata is a rare North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, known by the common name Klamath arnica.[3] It is native to the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California (Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, and Del Norte Counties) and southwestern Oregon (Curry, Josephine, Jackson, and Douglas Counties).[4] It grows in woodland habitat, almost exclusively on serpentine soils.[3][5]

Arnica spathulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Arnica
Species:
A. spathulata
Binomial name
Arnica spathulata
Synonyms[2]
  • Arnica cusickii Rydb.
  • Arnica eastwoodiae Rydb.

Arnica spathulata is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing one or more hairy, glandular stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall.[3] There are several pairs of broadly lance-shaped leaves along the stem, and a cluster of leaves about the base of the stem.[3] The basal leaves are up to about 15 centimeters long and the cauline leaves, those higher on the stem, are somewhat shorter.[3][6]

The inflorescence holds many flower heads lined with phyllaries coated in long, white hairs.[3] The flower head is discoid, containing only yellow disc florets and none of the showier ray florets.[3] The fruit is an achene up to a centimeter long, not counting its white pappus.[3][7]

References

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