Arnica cordifolia

Arnica cordifolia is a species of arnica in the sunflower family, known by the common name heartleaf arnica.[2] It is native to western North America.

Arnica cordifolia
Wenatchee Mountains, Washington

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Arnica
Species:
A. cordifolia
Binomial name
Arnica cordifolia
Synonyms
Synonymy
  • Arnica abortiva Greene
  • Arnica andersonii Piper
  • Arnica austinae Rydb.
  • Arnica chionophila Greene
  • Arnica evermannii Greene
  • Arnica hardinae H.St.John
  • Arnica humilis Rydb.
  • Arnica macrophylla Nutt.
  • Arnica microphylla Walp.
  • Arnica paniculata A.Nelson
  • Arnica parviflora Greene 1901 not A.Gray 1868[1]
  • Arnica pumila Rydb.
  • Arnica subcordata Greene
  • Arnica whitneyi Fernald

Description

This is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing one or more erect stems reaching a maximum height of about 60 centimetres (2 feet).[3] It has two to four pairs of leaves on the stem, each on a long petiole. The leaves are heart-shaped to arrowhead-shaped and finely toothed along the edges. The inflorescence bears one or more daisylike flower heads 5–9 cm (2–3+1⁄2 inches) in width,[3] lined with white-haired phyllaries and sometimes studded with resin glands. The center of each head contains golden yellow disc florets and a fringe of 10–15 bright golden ray florets approaching 3 cm (1+1⁄4 in) in maximum length.[3][4][5][6][7] The flowers usually bloom from April to June, but sometimes do so as late as September.[3]

The fruit is a hairy achene up to 1 cm (1⁄2 in) long, not counting its off-white pappus. Seeds are dispersed on the wind. An individual plant can live 12 years, surviving periodic wildfire by resprouting from its long, slender rhizome afterward.[7][8]

The species could be confused with the similar Arnica latifolia, from which it can be distinguished by the leaves. The leaves of A. cordifolia are larger and heart-shaped.[9]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to New Mexico, as far east as Ontario and Michigan.[10][11] It is a plant of many habitat types, including coniferous forests, and moist mountain meadows from sea level to altitudes of above 3,700 metres (12,000 ft), but most commonly between 1,200–3,400 m (4,000–11,000 ft).[10][7]

Uses

The dried leaves can be made into a poultice or tincture to treat strains and bruises.[12]

References
  1. The International Plant Names Index
  2. Calflora taxon report, University of California, Arnica cordifolia Hook. heart leaved arnica, heartleaf arnica
  3. Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. p. 355. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
  4. Klinkenberg, Brian, ed. (2017). "Arnica cordifolia". E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  5. Giblin, David, ed. (2018). "Arnica cordifolia". WTU Herbarium Image Collection. Burke Museum, University of Washington. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  6. "Arnica cordifolia". in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora. Jepson Herbarium; University of California, Berkeley. 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  7. Flora of North America Vol. 21 Page 374 Heartleaf arnica, Arnica cordifolia Hooker, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 331. 1834.
  8. Ecology Fire Ecology
  9. Reiner, Ralph E. (1969). Introducing the Flowering Beauty of Glacier National Park and the Majestic High Rockies. Glacier Park, Inc. p. 44.
  10. Sullivan, Steven. K. (2018). "Arnica cordifolia". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  11. Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution map
  12. Fagan, Damian (2019). Wildflowers of Oregon: A Field Guide to Over 400 Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Coast, Cascades, and High Desert. Guilford, CT: FalconGuides. p. 101. ISBN 1-4930-3633-5. OCLC 1073035766.


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