Petasites frigidus var. frigidus

Sweet Coltsfoot

Alpine Coltsfoot
aka Sweet Coltsfoot, Alpine Butterbur. Shorter than the lowland variety, var. palmatus, the stems of var. frigidus reach to about 1.5′ (50 cm). The leaves are also smaller, are triangular to heart-shaped, and deeply lobed into 3 – 5 segments and are about 1.5″ across. The flower heads consist of ray flowers which are whitish to pink to purplish and disk flowers that are pink to purplish. Usually found in open meadows and wet areas above 5,500′ elevation.

Family:

Asteraceae - SUNFLOWER FAMILY, ASTER FAMILY (Compositae)

Genus:

Petasites from Geek petasos, 'broad-brimmed hat', for wide basal leaves

Species:

frigidus means 'cold region' (nivalis for growing near snow)
Photo location: Along the WLT just south of Summerland Camp.