San Francisco Peaks Ragwort

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Packera
Species: P. franciscana

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The San Francisco Peaks ragwort (Packera franciscana), also known as the San Francisco Peaks groundsel, is a dwarf perennial plant found only in the alpine tundra of the San Francisco Peaks, north of Flagstaff, Arizona. With a habitat restricted to less than 2.6 km² of talus slopes above 3,300 m in elevation, the San Francisco Peaks ragwort is considered a threatened species by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Current estimates place the number of individual plants at around 5,000.

The species was first discovered by botanist Edward L. Greene on July 10^th, 1884. The plant is described as growing low to the ground, to a size of about 3-10 cm. Stems hold between 1-6 flower heads, each containing 8-13 yellow-gold flowers. The San Francisco Peaks ragwort flowers from early August to mid-September.

Threats to the San Francisco Peaks ragwort include hiking, ski area development, natural disturbances such as avalanches, and the destruction of its habitat due to global climate change. Off-trail hiking in the area is now prohibited, as well as disturbing or collecting the plant without a permit. Since 1996, the San Francisco Peaks ragwort has been protected under the Endangered Species Act and, as of August 21^st, 2000, is classified by NatureServe as a G1 species (critically imperiled, with a very high risk of extinction).

Sources

1. _{"CPC National Collection Plant Profile: Senecio franciscanus", The Center for Plant Conservation (March 4^th, 2010)}
2. _{"San Francisco Peaks Groundsel (Ragwort)", Arizona Ecological Services (June 20^th, 2010)}
3. _{"PLANTS Profile for Packera franciscana (San Francisco Peaks ragwort)", United States Department of Agriculture (October 20^th, 2002)}
4. _{"ITIS Standard Report: Packera franciscana", Integrated Taxonomic Information System (2010)}
5. _{"Packera franciscana photo", United States Forest Service}