Arnica latifolia is a species of arnica in the sunflower family, known by the common names broadleaf arnica, broad leaved arnica, mountain arnica, and daffodil leopardbane.Calflora taxon report, University of California, Arnica latifolia Bong., broadleaf arnica, mountain arnica It is native to western North America from Alaska east to Northwest Territories and south to Mono County, California, and Taos County, New Mexico.Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution mapBiota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map It grows in mountain habitat such as forest and meadows.
Arnica latifolia is a perennial herb growing from a long rhizome and producing a hairy, mostly naked stem 10 to 50 centimeters tall. It has a cluster of leaves around its base and usually a few pairs along the lower part of the stem. The leaves are lance-shaped to broad and nearly heart-shaped, and are usually toothed.Flora of North America Vol. 21 Page 376 Broadleaf arnica Arnica latifolia Bongard, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg, Sér. 6, Sci. Math. 2: 147. 1832.
The inflorescence contains one or more daisy-like flower heads lined in glandular phyllaries. Each has a center of yellow disc florets and several yellow ray florets up to 3 centimeters long. The fruit is an achene with a white pappus.
The plant was first described in 1832 by German-Russian botanist Gustav Heinrich von Bongard, based on material collected near Sitka, now in Alaska (then called Russian America).Bongard, August Gustav Heinrich von 1832. Mémoires de l'Académie Imperiale des Sciences de St.-Pétersbourg. Sixième Série. Sciences Mathématiques, Physiques et Naturelles 2(2): 147–148, Veg. Isl. Sitch. 29.The International Plant Names IndexTropicos, Arnica latifolia Bong.
The species could be confused with the similar Arnica cordifolia, from which it can be distinguished by the leaves.
References
External links Jepson Manual Treatment United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile calphotos Photo gallery, University of California