Arnica mollis

Arnica mollis is a North American species of arnica in the sunflower family, known by the common name soft arnica,[2]^: 113 or hairy arnica.[3] It is native to Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and all 3 Arctic territories)[4] and the United States (Alaska and the western mountains as far south as San Bernardino County, California[5] and Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. There are also isolated populations in the White Mountains of Coos County, New Hampshire.[6] The species grows in subalpine mountain habitat such as meadows and streambanks.[3]

Arnica mollis
Arnica mollis in Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Arnica
Species:	A. mollis
Binomial name
Arnica mollis Hook.
Synonyms[1]
Synonymy Arnica amplifolia Rydb. Arnica arachnoidea Rydb. Arnica aspera Greene Arnica coloradensis Rydb. Arnica confinis Greene Arnica crocea Greene 1900 not L. 1753 Arnica crocina Greene Arnica merriami Greene Arnica rivularis Greene Arnica scaberrima Greene Arnica silvatica Greene Arnica subplumosa Greene

Arnica mollis is a perennial herb producing one or more hairy, glandular, mostly naked stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall. There are 3 to 5 pairs of leaves along mainly the lower half of the stem, each oblong in shape and 4 to 20 centimeters in length.[3]

The inflorescence holds one to a few daisylike flower heads with centers of yellow disc florets and fringes of yellow ray florets. The fruit is an achene with a brownish pappus.[3]

"Mollis" means "soft", referring to the soft hairs on the leaves.[2]^: 113