Arnica chamissonis

Arnica chamissonis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Asterids
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Arnica
Species:	A. chamissonis
Binomial name
Arnica chamissonis Less.
Synonyms[1]
Synonymy Arnica bernardina Greene Arnica bruceae Rydb. Arnica cana Greene Arnica celsa A.Nelson Arnica columbiana Greene Dec 1900 not A.Nelson Sept 1900 Arnica exigua A.Nelson Arnica foliosa Nutt. Arnica greenei A.Nelson Arnica incana (A.Gray) Greene 1900 not Pers. 1807 Arnica kodiakensis Rydb. Arnica lanulosa Greene Arnica macilenta Greene Arnica maguirei A.Nelson Arnica ocreata A.Nelson Arnica rhizomata A.Nelson Arnica rubricaulis Greene Arnica stricta A.Nelson Arnica tomentulosa Rydb.

Arnica chamissonis, the Chamisso arnica,^[2] is a North American species of plants in the sunflower family. It is very similar to Arnica montana. Arnica chamissonis is native to the United States and Canada and naturalized in parts of Europe while A. montana is indigenous to Europe.^[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

Arnica chamissonis is native to the Western United States, including Alaska, and most of Canada including Yukon and Northwest Territories.^[5][6] Arnica chamissonis is perennial. It has a temperature minimum of −33 °F (−36 °C).^[5] They are adapted to both coarse and medium textured soils with a pH between 6.0-7.2.^[5] Since this plant uses a lot of moisture, it has a precipitation requirement of between 14–24 inches (36–61 cm).^[5] It generally prefers moist meadows and conifer forests and often grows montane and subalpine, 0–3,500 metres (0–11,483 ft).^[7] Seeds are easily available and the plant can be grown in a home garden. It prefers full sun exposure and an average soil temperature of 65–75 °F (18–24 °C).^[8]

Morphology

Arnica chamissonis has yellow flowers with green medium textured foliage.^[5] The leaves of the Arnica chamissonis are grouped in 4-10 pairs.^[7] It produces brown seeds and has an active growth period of the spring and summer. It has rhizomatous growth and grows at a moderate rate.^[5] Rhizomatous plants have an underground stem with small fiber-like adventitious roots. A. chamissonis has a mature height of roughly 2.5 feet (76 cm).

Reproduction and growth

Arnica chamissonis has an active bloom period throughout the summer.^[5] There are approximately 400,000 seeds per pound. These individuals have a medium seedling vigor and a moderate vegetative spread rate.^[5] Seedling vigor refers to "the expected seedling survival percentage of the plant compared to other species with the same growth habit." A vegetative spread rate refers to how quickly a plant can spread through a given area. In general, A. chamissonis can be grown in a container, by using seeds or sprigs.^[5]

Both the A. montana and the A. chamissonis contain the toxin helenalin.

The species is named for German poet and botanist Adelbert von Chamisso, 1781 – 1838.^[9][10]

References

1. The Plant List Arnica chamissonis Less.
2. Calflora taxon report, University of California, Arnica chamissonis Less. Chamisso arnica
3. "Invasive Species Compendium, 2011 Edition". CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 2011.
4. Altervista Flora Italiana, Arnica montana L. includes photos and European distribution map
5. National Plant Data Team (2012). "The PLANTS Database" Check |url= value (help). USDA, NRCS.
6. Biota of North America Program, 2014 state-level distribution map
7. "Flora of North America, Arnica chamissonis". Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
8. "Restoration Seeds".
9. Brummitt, R. K.; C. E. Powell (1992). Authors of Plant Names. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 978-1-84246-085-6.
10. Lessing, Christian Friedrich 1831. Linnaea 6(2): 238–239 in Latin