Packera neomexicana

Perennials, biennials, or annuals, 20-50+ cm; fibrous-rooted, taprooted, or ± rhizomatous (bases branched, horizontal or ascending to erect). Stems 1 or 2-5+, clustered, lanate- or arachno-tomentose or glabrescent. Basal leaves (often abaxially cyanic) petiolate (petioles hairy to glabrate); blades ovate to lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, 20-60+ × 10-30+ mm, bases abruptly contracted to tapering, margins subentire or denticulate to subserrate (abaxial faces usually tomentose, adaxials frequently glabrate). Cauline leaves gradually or abruptly reduced (proximal petiolate, similar to basals; mids and distals sessile, lanceolate, entire). Heads 3-20+ in open or compact, corymbiform to subumbelliform arrays (subtended by smaller arrays arising from leaf axils). Peduncles conspicuously bracteate, usually hairy. Calyculi conspicuous. Phyllaries 13 or 21, green or yellowish, 4-7+ mm, tomentose to glabrescent. Ray florets (5-)8 or 13; corolla laminae 4-10 mm. Disc florets 40-60+; corolla tubes 1.5-2.5 mm, limbs 3.5-4.5 mm. Cypselae 1.5-2.5 mm, usually hirtellous on ribs, sometimes glabrous; pappi 5-6+ mm. 2n = 44, 46, 92.

FNA 2006, Wiggins 1964, Kearney and Peebles 1969

Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Erect perennial with 1-5 stems 20-50 cm tall, fibrous rooted, taprooted to rhizomatous; herbage white-tomentose to glabrescent. Leaves: Basal and lower leaves on petioles 2-6 cm long, bases abruptly contracted to tapering, margins subentire or denticulate to subserrate; cauline leaves gradually or abruptly reduced, oblong to lanceolate, dentate, reduced toward inflorescence, persistently tomentose. Flowers: Heads in open or compact corymbosely arrays, 3-20 heads on conspicuously bracteate, usually hairy peduncles; campanulate involucres, phyllaries 13-21, greenish or yellowish, evenly arranged, 4-7 mm long, tomentose to labrescent; 8-13 ray florets, corolla 4-10 mm long yellow; disc florets 40-60, corolla tubes 1.5-2.5 mm, tubes expand into slender throat which about equals tube. Fruits: Brownish cypselae 1.5-2.5 mm, hirtellous on ribs, sometimes glabrous, pappi 5-6 mm. Ecology: Found on slopes and in canyons from 3,000-9,000 ft (914-2743 m); flowers April-August. Notes: One of the more widespread species in this genus. Four varieties of this species are found in Arizona. Ethnobotany: Used for gonorrheal sores, as an antidote for narcotics, as a burn dressing, as a disinfectant, and for good luck in hunting. Etymology: Packera is named for John G. Packer (1929-) a contemporary botanist, while neomexicana means of or from New Mexico. Synonyms: Senecio neomexicanus, also var. neomexicana has many see Tropicos Editor: SBuckley, 2010