Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 18, 2005.

Packera werneriifolia is typically found above tree-line in rocky soils.  It often forms foot diameter tight clusters of numerous dark green leaves and dozens of yellow and gold flowers.  It is often found in the company of Senecio fremontii which also forms a dense mat topped by very similar appearing flowers.  S. fremontii is distinguished from P. werneriifolia by looking at the leaves: those of S. fremontii are light green, sessile, prominently toothed, and succulent appearing.  Those of P. werneriifolia are dark green, petioled, finely toothed, and thinner.

"Werneriifolia" means "with leaves similar to those of the Asteraceae genus, Werneria", a species not found in the United States.  Abraham Gottlieb Werner (1749-1817) was a German geologist.

Hall and Harbour collected this species in Colorado in 1862 and in 1864 Asa Gray named it Senecio aureus, variety werneriaefolius, changing it to Senecio werneriaefolius in 1883.  In 1981 Weber and Love published their reasoning for changing the genus to "Packera" and the species to "werneriaefolia" and eventually the species spelling was changed to "werneriifolia".  (More biographical information.)

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 14, 2006.

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 18, 2005.

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, June 7, 2008.

Packera werneriifolia hybridizes with other Packeras and this plant, common in certain locations at Lone Mesa State Park, appears to be a hybrid with the very wooly P. canus. Other Packera are nearby so the resultant hybrids can be, in Weber's words, "very difficult to place".

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, June 7, 2008.

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, tundra, scree. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, June 7, 2008.