Arnica lonchophylla ssp. lonchophylla Greene Synonyms: angustifolia ssp. lonchophylla

Global Distribution: Occurs throughout ; , South Dakota, .

Alaska Distribution: Intermontane Boreal.

Ecoregions Occupied: Ray Mountains, -Tanana Uplands.

Conservation Status: S1S2 G5T4; BLM Sensitive.

Description24, 25, 26, 36

Flower heads relatively small with involucres 8 to 12 mm tall

Flower heads erect, 1 to 8 together Leaves opposite, in 2 to 7 pairs Basal leaves lanceolate to narrowly elliptic

5 cm Basal leaves regularly toothed, prominently 3- to 5-nerved, and long- petiolated

Illustration by Matthew L. Carlson 11

Arnica lonchophylla ssp. lonchophylla

General: Perennial herb from slender, branched rhizome; stems 12 to 50 cm tall, erect to ascending, mostly solitary, usually simple but occasionally branched; entire sparsely to densely puberulent and sometimes glandular at least in the upper portion.

Leaves: Basal leaves lanceolate to narrowly elliptic-ovate, prominently 3- to 5-veined, puberulent and glandular to nearly glabrous, long-petiolated with regularly toothed margins; stem leaves opposite, in 2 to 7 pairs, 3.5 to 14 cm long, 0.5 to 3.7 cm wide, becoming reduced, sessile, and entire-margined near the top.

Flowers: Flower heads erect, arranged in clusters of 1 to 8; involucres densely white-hairy, 8 to 18 mm tall; involucral bracts 6 to 14, lanceolate, puberulent, usually glandular; ray florets 6 to 17, yellow, toothed at apexes; disk florets yellow.

Fruits: Achenes 3 to 8 mm long, uniformly densely hairy and sometimes glandular with white, finely barbed pappi.

© Forrest Baldwin 1990

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Arnica lonchophylla ssp. lonchophylla

Ecology

Elevation: Known from 120 to 620 m in Alaska; 0 to 1,500 m elsewhere in .36

Landform: River bars, river banks, mountain slopes, rock ledges

Soil Type: Rocky soil, gravel, sand; occasionally associated with calcareous substrates.

Moisture regime: Dry.

Vegetation type: Open woodlands, sparsely vegetated.

Associated species: Aquilegia brevistyla, Castilleja caudata, Chamaepericlymenum canadense (Cornus canadensis), Salix alaxensis.

Longevity: Perennial, longevity unknown.

Phenology: Flowering June to August.

Population estimate: There are three known occurrences in Alaska; usually occurs in small populations of scattered individuals throughout its known range in North America.37

Reproductive biology: Spreads vegetatively by rhizomes in addition to reproducing by seeds; floral visitors include muscid or calliphorid flies.

© Forrest Baldwin 1990

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Arnica lonchophylla ssp. lonchophylla

Similar Species24, 25, 36

Arnica lonchophylla ssp. lonchophylla can be distinguished from other Arnica taxa with relatively narrow leaves and erect, typically multiple heads that occur in Alaska by the morphological features and habitats shown in the table below.

Species Leaves Involucre Pappus Habitat Regularly toothed, Open Arnica elliptic to narrowly 8 to 12 mm woodlands, lonchophylla ssp. White lanceolate, basal tall stream lonchophylla leaves long-petiolated gravels Basal leaves entire to Alpine remotely toothed, 10 to Arnica angustifolia White slopes, broadly lanceolate to 14 mm tall linear, short-petiolated Regularly to coarsely Moist toothed, cordate to Arnica 8 to 12 mm meadows, ovate, basal leaves Tan chamissonis tall conifer short-petiolated to forests sessile Alpine to Entire or irregularly subalpine toothed, elliptic to Arnica mollis 12 mm tall Tan meadows, lanceolate, basal conifer leaves long-petiolated forests Alpine to Coarsely toothed, subalpine 10 to 15 Arnica ovata broadly deltate to Tan meadows, mm tall ovate conifer forests

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