Packera paupercula (Balsam Groundsel) - photos and description
15 cm ruler for scale
Stem leaf
in above photo
Basal leaf
in above photo
General: Slender stems from a basal rosette of leaves. Stem glabrous at top, lightly hairy at bottom. Leaves fleshy.
Flowers: Inflorescence corymbiform, flower heads deep yellow in colour, we measured a flower head at 25 mm diameter. Bracts linear-lanceolate in a single series. Involucre measured at 11 mm high.
Leaves: Basal leaves long petiolate, measured at 5 cm long (including petiole), blade measured at 2 cm long by 1 cm wide, elliptical-oblong, serrate, rounded at apex, base of basal leaves is wedge-shaped. Stem leaves are alternate, sessile, reduced upwards, coarsely toothed, stem leaves woolly at axils, otherwise pubescent. Stem leaves lanceolate and coarsely toothed.
Height: Height is listed in Budd's Flora to 40 cm, we measured plants to 53 cm tall.
Habitat: Wet meadows in prairies, parklands, and boreal forest.
Abundance: Common.
Origin: Native.
Synonym: Listed in some of the guides we use as Senecio pauperculus.
How to identify this species of Packera: Basal leaves on long stalks, elliptic to oblong, apex of basal leaves are rounded, stem leaves sessile, reduced upwards and coarsely toothed or pinnatifid.
When and where photographed: Above photos taken June 22nd, and July 1st in small grassy openings in the canopy of moist, aspen woodland, about 70 km southeast of our home in Regina, SK.