Rhizomatous perennial from long, branched rhizomes. | |||
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fruit |
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General
Description:
This perennial is usually less than 1
foot tall including the flower stalk. It spreads into large
patches by lateral root growth. It has heart-shaped, serrated, opposite
leaves which are mostly basal. The plant grows under conifers, usually douglas
fir or lodgepole pine. The showy, yellow flower heads are about 2 ½ inches
in diameter.
Distribution:
Alaska to Saskatchewan to New Mexico and California to northern Michigan
Habitat:
Mostly in moist woodlands in shade from low to high elevations
Other:
The constituents of the genus Arnica are varied depending upon which part of
the plant one is describing. The above ground parts contain volatile oils and
the roots contain resins. Fatty acids and aromatics, including thymol, thymohydroquinone,
arnicin, arnidendiol, arnidoiol, arnisterin, many carotinoids and flavonoids.
They tend to lack toxic alkaloids.
Flowers are most commonly used, but all parts of the plants contain
active ingredients. Tincture , oil, salve, tea or bruised fresh plant parts
are used for bruises, hyperextensions, arthritis, bursitis, and myalgia. It
is said to work by stimulating and dilating capillaries.