''Packera paupercula'' is a

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 ...

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of the genus '' Packera'' and family

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

, native to North America, where it is widespread across Canada and much of the United States. Its common names include balsam ragwort and balsam groundsel. It is a perennial herb that grows tall. Its habitats include wet meadows, open woodlands, and rocky outcrops. It flowers as early as April in the southern part of its range, and as late as August in the northern part of its range.

Taxonomy

''Packera paupercula'' taxonomically complex, with varying amounts of infraspecific taxa recognized by different authorities. No single classification to date has received wide acceptance. The

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally important botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,100 ...

currently recognizes the following varieties: *''P. paupercula'' var. ''appalachiana'' - Restricted to the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...

*''P. paupercula'' var. ''paupercula'' - Widespread from Newfoundland to Alaska, south through the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians *''P. paupercula'' var. ''pseudotomentosa'' - Native to the

Midwest The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...

, Upper South, and Ontario *''P. paupercula'' var. ''savannarum'' - Restricted to the upper Midwest Image:Packera paupercula pseudotomentosa.jpg, Variety ''pseduotomentosa'' is identified by its permanent tomentose pubescence and stoloniferous growth

References

External links

* paupercula Flora of the United States Flora of Canada Flora of Alaska Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America) Flora of the Rocky Mountains Taxa named by André Michaux Plants described in 1803 {{Senecioneae-stub