Packera neomexicana var. metcalfei (Metcalfe's Groundsel)
SENECIO METCALFEI GREENE; SENECIO NEOMEXICANUS GRAY VAR. METCALFEI (GREENE) T.M. BARKL.
Packera neomexicana (A. Gray) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve var. mutabilis (Greene) W. A. Weber & Á. Löve
Subrhizomatous perennial; stems 1-4 dm tall; leaves mostly basal, oblanceolate to obovate, dentate towards apex, lightly tomentose or glabrate at maturity; stem leaves few and much reduced upwards; heads radiate, erect, several to many in a corymbose cyme; phyllaries narrow, in a single series; ray and disk flowers yellow; pappus of numerous white capillary bristles; achenes with small thin hairs. Flowers June to August.
This variety intergrades with Packera neomexicana var. mutabilis where the two are in contact. Otherwise, the subrhizomatous caudex, glabrous herbage, and dentate basal leaf apices of var. metcalfei distinguish it from the var. mutabilis, which has a branched caudex, tomentose herbage, and dentate to subentire leaves. Packera cynthioides differs mainly in that its leaves on the lower third of its stems are as large as the basal leaves.
Packera neomexicana var. mutabilis is widespread and common throughout NM, CO, AZ, and UT.
Pinion-juniper woodland and lower montane coniferous forest; 2,150-2,450 m (7,000-8,000 ft).
T. M. Barkley (1968, 1980) recognized P. neomexicana var. metcalfei, separating the two on degree and location of dentations on the leaf margins and indicating that var. metcalfei was distributed along the Mogollon rim and var. mutabilis was from north of the Mogollon rim (FNA Vol. 20). Synonymized in FNA Vol. 20, 2006.
This plant is quite common within its limited range and there appear to be no significant land use threats to its habitats.
Barkley, T.M. 1980. Taxonomic notes on Senecio tomentosus and its allies (Asteraceae). Brittonia 32(3):291-308.
For distribution maps and more information, visit Natural Heritage New Mexico