Ragwort Leaf - Packera sp.

Some of the leaves on these ragwort plants were very purple on the undersurface.

Habitat: Mixed, mesic forest

comments (8)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Wow, is this due to decomposition or naturally so? Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  I'm not sure...Only a few of the leaves were purple. Also, this plant had several leaves with leafmines. So, I thought that maybe the color was related? Maybe the leafminers create some sort of deficiency that turns the leaves purple. Or, maybe not. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Sounds like a solid theory. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Maybe. I will have to share this with plant people somewhere to see if I can get some insight. Posted 4 years ago
    2. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      The mystery is solved! The leaves are purple because this is a ragwort leaf, not a violet leaf. Ragwort leaves are purple on the underside! Posted 4 years ago
    3. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Nice! How did you find out? Posted 4 years ago
      2. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Charley Eiseman identified the leafmines seen here:
        
        The purple leaves belonged to the same plant :). Posted 4 years ago
        
        Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Cool! Posted 4 years ago

The Golden ragwort

"Packera aurea", commonly known as golden ragwort, is a perennial flower in the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America, from Labrador to Minnesota and from North Carolina to Arkansas.

Info 6 0

Similar species: Asterales

Species identified by Christine Young