[Butterweeds and Groundsels: The Genera Packera and Senecio East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]
Dwarf Mountain Groundsel, Dwarf Mountain Ragwort
Senecio fremontii var. fremontii
An example of dwarf mountain groundsel as seen along the Steens Mountain Summit Ridge between the East Rim Viewpoint and the Steens Mountain Summit........September 1, 2011.
The photo at right shows the flower head of dwarf mountain groundsel as photographed on an open ridge below the Langille Crags, Mt. Hood Wilderness.......July
3, 1992.
Characteristics:
Dwarf mountain groundsel is an attractive perennial wildflower with many decumbent
to ascending stems arising 10-25 cm from a branching, more or less woody rootstock.
The herbage is green and glabrous. Leaves are found along the entire stem, although reduced
in size upwards. Individual leaves are obovate to spatulate in shape with short
to long (sometimes longer than the blade) petioles. The succulent blades vary
from 1-3 cm in length and are sharply toothed and often with curled or wavy edges.
The flower heads are few at the ends of the stems. The involucres are 6-8
mm high with 12-15 linear bracts. The individual bracts have thin, dry and membranous
margins. The 7-9 rays are a light yellow in color, and each is 6-8 mm long. The rays surround a yellow disk.
Habitat:
Dwarf mountain groundsel is found on talus or other rocky slopes at higher
elevations in the mountains.
Range:
Dwarf mountain groundsel is found from British Columbia south to California
and east to the Rocky Mts. of southern Alberta. They are found south through
the Rockies to Colorado.
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Close-up photos of dwarf mountain groundsel as seen along the North Loop Road where the snow lays late into the summer about one mile downhill from the Kiger Gorge Overlook, Steens Mountain, Harney County, OR.........August 31, 2011.
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Close-up photos of dwarf mountain groundsel as seen at the head of Little Blitzen Gorge, Steens Mountain, Harney County, OR.........September 1, 2011.
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Dwarf mountain groundsel as seen along the North Loop Road above the head of Little Blitzen Canyon, Steens Mountain..........July 10, 2014.
Dwarf mountain groundsel as seen along the South Loop Road about one and a quarter mile downhill to the west of the East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain..........July 9, 2014.
Dwarf mountain ragwort as seen on gravels in a late snow melt spot along the South Loop Road about one mile west of East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain.........September 20, 2015.
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Dwarf mountain groundsel clustered among granitic rocks along the East Fork Lostine River Trail #1662 near Lost Lake, Eagle Cap Wilderness.........August 4, 2016.
Dwarf mountain groundsel as photographed at Kiger Gorge, Steens Mt in southeastern Oregon.......July 6, 2004.
Paul Slichter