''Packera malmstenii'' is a rare species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the aster family known by the common name Podunk ragwort. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

in the United States, where there about 19 occurrences in the southwestern part of the state.''Packera malmstenii''.
The Nature Conservancy. This

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

is generally about 8 to 15 centimeters tall, growing from a branching

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

. It produces one stem or a small cluster of stems and leaves with oval blades up to 2.5 centimeters long. There is one or more

flower heads A pseudanthium (Greek for "false flower"; ) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, compos ...

, each with 13 blue-green phyllaries about a centimeter in length. The head may contain ray florets, or these may be absent. Blooming occurs in July and August.''Packera malmstenii''.
Flora of North America. This plant occurs on the

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

of the

Claron Formation The exposed geology of the Bryce Canyon area in Utah shows a record of deposition that covers the last part of the Cretaceous Period and the first half of the Cenozoic era in that part of North America. The ancient depositional environment of th ...

in Utah. It can be found on the Markagunt,

Aquarius Aquarius may refer to: Astrology * Aquarius (astrology), an astrological sign * Age of Aquarius, a time period in the cycle of astrological ages Astronomy * Aquarius (constellation) * Aquarius in Chinese astronomy Arts and entertainment ...

, and

Paunsaugunt Plateau The Paunsaugunt Plateau (pronounced "PAWN-suh-gant") is a dissected plateau, rising to an elevation of , in southwestern Utah in the United States. Located in northern Kane County and southwestern Garfield County, it is approximately wide, and ...

s. It occurs within the bounds of the Dixie National Forest and Cedar Breaks National Monument. There are few threats to its survival because it occurs in inaccessible, rugged habitat and on soils high in calcium carbonate, which are inhospitable to weeds.

References

External links

USDA Plants Profile for ''Packera malmstenii''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7122968 malmstenii Flora of Utah Endemic flora of the United States Dixie National Forest Cedar Breaks National Monument Critically endangered flora of the United States