Arnica cordifolia
Synonyms: Arnica cordifolia var. cordifolia, Arnica cordifolia var. pumila
The photo at right shows a close-up of the involucral bracts of heart-leaf arnica as seen from near the Little Spokane River north of Spokane, WA...............April 30, 2006.
Heartleaf arnica is deciduous perennial arising to a height of 10-60 cm from naked rhizomes. The stems are solitary, or occasionally several loosely clustered together. The stems are covered with minute glandular hairs, or loosely with white hairs (see photos). The 2-3 pairs of opposite, heart-shaped stem leaves. range from 4-12 cm long and 3-9 cm wide. The leaf margins are usually coarsely toothed, but may also be entire.
The flowers are found at the tips of the stems and are usually solitary, although it is possible that several could be clustered together. The flower heads have a yellow central disk surrounded by 10-15 yellow ray flowers. The tips of these ray flowers are pointed. Individual rays are 1.5-3 cm long. The involucre is 13-20 mm tall and sparsely to thickly covered with long white, spreading hairs.
Native Americans used flowers steeped in water as a salve for wounds or cuts. The flowers may be grazed by sheep and horses.
Moist wooded places, often near streams, from the foothills to upper elevations (3500m)
Widespread over the west in its habitat.
The photo above shows the cordate leaf of heart-leaf arnica as seen from near the Little Spokane River north of Spokane, WA...............April 30, 2006.
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Additional close-up photos of heart-leaf arnica as seen along Reecer Creek Road, Wenatchee National Forest....................June 5, 2009.
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Additional close-ups of heartleaf arnica as seen along Soda Springs Road in the Klickitat State Wildlife Area of south-central Washington................May 8, 2009.
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