Mountain Arnica, Slender Arnica, Slender Leopardbane: Arnica gracilis (Synonym: Arnica latifolia var. gracilis

The photo above shows a close-up of the flower head of slender arnica as seen from directly overhead. Photographed on Little Mt. Adams on the southeastern flanks of Mt. Adams.......July 16, 2005. This plant differs from its cousin, Arnica latifolia in its more diminutive size (10-30 cm in height) as well as smaller and narrower involucre, which is 7-13 mm long. In addition, the leaves are rarely greater than 2.5 cm wide, and this species is found at higher altitudes, often in rockier or cinder covered slopes that are more exposed and more arid.

A sideview of the upper stem leaves and involucral bracts of slender arnica as seen on Little Mt. Adams........July17, 2006.

Mountain Arnica, Broadleaf Arnica: Arnica latifolia - Leaves larger, usually 1.5-8 cm broad, often noticeably toothed. The 1-3 flower heads are larger and wider than those of the next species, with the involucres measuring from 10-18 mm high. Larger plants from 10-60 cm high, found in moist woods, medows, and moist open places in the mountains, more typically at lower elevations than the next species.

Slender Arnica: Arnica gracilis (A. latifolia var. gracilis) - Leaves small, usually less than 2.5 cm wide. The 3-9 narrow heads are small, the involucre measuring 7-13 mm hgih. Small tufted plants from 10-30 cm high, found on rocky to cinder slopes that are more exposed, and usually higher than A latifolia.

The photo above shows a close-up of a stem leaf of slender arnica. Photographed on Little Mt. Adams on the southeastern flanks of Mt. Adams........July 16, 2005. The leaves of this species tend to be less than 2.5 cm wide and the leaves at mid-stem (like these) have short petioles.

The photo above shows the flower head of slender arnica as seen on Little Mt. Adams........July 17, 2006.

The photo above shows a close-up of the upper stem, leaves and flower heads of slender arnica as seen from directly overhead. Photographed on the steep, cinder slopes of Little Mt. Adams on the southeastern flanks of Mt. Adams.........July 16, 2005.

Slender arnica beginning to bloom at left on a sandy slope beside the snow field that is the headwaters of Killen Creek, just below High Camp on the north side of Mt. Adams.......August 29, 2012. The photo at right shows what may be slender arnica blooming in a recently melted snow patch along the climber's trail high above Hellroaring Valley, Bird Creek Meadows, Mt. Adams, Yakama Nation lands.........September 3, 2017.

The photo above shows a cluster of mountain arnica as seen in the shelter of a rock at about 7900' in the Devils Garden on the northeastern slopes of Mt. Adams........July 24, 2005.