Arnica cordifolia

Arnica cordifolia is a species of arnica in the sunflower family, known by the common name heartleaf arnica. It is native to western North America.

Description

This is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing one or more erect stems reaching a maximum height of about. It has two to four pairs of leaves on the stem, each on a long petiole. The leaves are heart-shaped to arrowhead-shaped and finely toothed along the edges. The inflorescence bears one or more daisylike flower heads in width, lined with white-haired phyllaries and sometimes studded with resin glands. The center of each head contains golden yellow disc florets and a fringe of 10–15 bright golden ray florets approaching in maximum length. The flowers usually bloom from April to June, but sometimes do so as late as September.
The fruit is a hairy achene up to long, not counting its off-white pappus. Seeds are dispersed on the wind. An individual plant can live 12 years, surviving periodic wildfire by resprouting from its long, slender rhizome afterward.
The species could be confused with the similar Arnica latifolia, from which it can be distinguished by the leaves. The leaves of A.''cordifolia'' are larger and heart-shaped.

Names

Arnica cordifolia is frequently called heartleaf arnica, but is also sometimes called leopard's bane.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to New Mexico, as far east as Ontario and Michigan. It is a plant of many habitat types, including temperate [coniferous forest|coniferous forest]s, and moist mountain meadows from sea level to altitudes of above, but most commonly between.

Uses

The dried leaves can be made into a poultice or tincture to treat strains and bruises.