Prenanthes sagittata (A. Gray) A. Nelson
arrow-leaved rattlesnake-root (arrowleaf rattlesnakeroot)
Asteraceae (Aster family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Ryan Batten     (Photo ID #66715)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Prenanthes sagittata
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a slightly thickened taproot; stems erect, solitary, branched above, long-hairy, exuding milky juice when broken, 30-70 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves arrowhead-shaped, long-stalked, blades irregularly toothed, glabrous, 3.5-12 cm long, 0.5-11 cm wide; stem leaves similar below, middle and lower ones with winged stalks, becoming short-stalked or unstalked, reduced upwards.
Flowers:
Heads with strap-shaped flowers, numerous in a spikelike inflorescence; involucres 7-13 mm tall; involucral bracts lance-oblong, the principal ones linear, about 8, sparsely long-hairy; ray flowers white.
Fruits:
Achenes finely lined between the nerves, cylindric or tapering to the summit, glabrous, 4-6 mm long; pappus of brownish hairlike bristles.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Prenanthes sagittata

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
646 420 850
Slope Gradient (%)
7 0 15

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

241 242 242
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
5 5 5
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3
Modal BEC Zone Class
SBS

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

CWH(1), SBS(2)

Habitat and Range

Moist to mesic roadsides, forests and streambanks in the montane zone; rare in SE BC, known only from Kishinena Valley and Akamina Creek; E to AB and S to N ID and MT.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Prenanthes alata var. sagittata Gray