Arnica latifolia
Broadleaf Arnica
aka Mountain Arnica, Daffodil Leopardbane. Many of the yellow flowers in the park are arnicas with eight species present making it difficult for the novice to properly identify, but here the stem leaves give us a good clue. A. latifolia grows to over 1 1/2′ (to 50 cm) and the two to four ovate leaves reach about 1 1/2″ and those in the middle and upper parts of the stem are not stalked. The mid stem toothed leaves which are opposite each other appear large and less tapered then most arnicas, thus “broad-leafed.” The yellow flowers have 8 – 12 rays which are squared off at the tips. Probably the most common of the arnicas in the Park it is usually found along streams, in meadows and open slopes above 4,000′ elevation.
Family:
Asteraceae - SUNFLOWER FAMILY, ASTER FAMILY (Compositae)
Genus:
Arnica from Greek 'lamb's skin' for woolly area under the flowerheads
Species:
latifolia means 'broad-leaf'