Packera plattensis, commonly known as prairie ragwort or prairie groundsel, is a species of the genus Packera and family Asteraceae. It used to be placed in the genus Senecio.

Prairie groundsel

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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Packera
Species:
P. plattensis
Binomial name
Packera plattensis
Synonyms[1]
  • Senecio plattensis Nutt
  • Senecio pseudotomentosus Mackenzie & Bush

Prairie groundsel is found throughout the tallgrass prairie region. It blooms fairly early for a prairie wildflower: from April to July depending on the climate.[1]

It is easily confused with golden ragwort (Packera aurea) which has a hairless stem and heart-shaped basal leaves, and Senecio integerrimus, which has leaves that are mostly entire instead of fern-like, and much larger basal leaves.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Trock, Debra K. (2006). "Packera plattensis". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 20. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  2. ^ Runkel, Sylvan T.; Roosa, Dean M. (1989). Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie: the upper Midwest. Iowa State University Press. p. 73.
 
Prairie Groundsel blooming in late May in Iowa
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