Arnica spathulata is a rare North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, known by the common name Klamath arnica.[1] It is native to the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California (Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, and Del Norte Counties) and southwestern Oregon (Curry, Josephine, Jackson, and Douglas Counties).[2] It grows in woodland habitat, almost exclusively on serpentine soils.[1] [3]
Arnica spathulata is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing one or more hairy, glandular stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall.[1] There are several pairs of broadly lance-shaped leaves along the stem, and a cluster of leaves about the base of the stem.[1] The basal leaves are up to about 15 centimeters long and the cauline leaves, those higher on the stem, are somewhat shorter.[1] [4]
The inflorescence holds many flower heads lined with phyllaries coated in long, white hairs.[1] The flower head is discoid, containing only yellow disc florets and none of the showier ray florets.[1] The fruit is an achene up to a centimeter long, not counting its white pappus.[1] [5]
