Arnica is a genus of perennial plant, herbaceous plants in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The genus name Arnica may be derived from the Greek language , "lamb", in reference to the plants' soft, hairy leaves. Arnica is also known by the names mountain tobacco and, confusingly, leopard's bane and wolfsbane—two names that it shares with the entirely unrelated genus Aconitum.
This circumboreal and montane (subalpine) genus occurs mostly in the temperate regions of western North America, with a few species native to the Arctic Circle regions of northern Eurasia and North America.[ Altervista Flora Italiana, Arnica, Arnica montana L. includes photos and European distribution maps]
Arnica species are used as food plants by the of some Lepidoptera species, including Bucculatricidae.
Arnica was previously classified in the tribe Senecioneae because it has a flower or pappus of fine bristles.
Arnica is the basis of a homeopathic remedy promoted for aiding bruise recovery.
Characteristics
Arnica plants have a deep-rooted, erect
Plant stem that is usually unbranched. Their downy
opposite leaves are borne towards the apex of the stem. The ovoid, leathery basal leaves are arranged in a rosette.
[ Flora of North America, Arnica Linnaeus]
They show large yellow or orange , wide with long ray florets and numerous disc florets. The phyllary (a bract under the flowerhead) has long spreading hairs. Each phyllary is associated with a ray floret. Species of Arnica, with an involucral bract (a circle of bracts arranged surrounding the flower head) arranged in two rows, have only their outer phyllaries associated with ray florets. The flowers have a slight aroma compound smell.[
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The seedlike fruit has a pappus of plumose, white or pale tan bristles. The entire plant has a strong and distinct pine-sage odor when the leaves of mature plants are rubbed or bruised.[
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Arnica montana
The species Arnica montana, native to Europe, has long been used in folk medicine, but there is no clinical evidence for its homeopathic use as an effective therapy.
Toxicity
Arnica montana contains the toxin helenalin, which can be poisonous if large amounts of the plant are eaten, and contact with the plant can also cause skin irritation.
Species
Accepted species:[ The Plant List search for Arnica]
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Arnica acaulis—Common leopardbane—eastern United States from Alabama to New Jersey
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Arnica angustifolia—Narrowleaf arnica—Canada (from British Columbia to Quebec), US (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado); Russia, Scandinavia
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Arnica cernua—Serpentine arnica—California, Oregon
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Arnica chamissonis—Chamisso arnica—US west of Rocky Mountains including Alaska; Canada (British Columbia to Quebec plus Yukon + Northwest Territories)
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Arnica cordifolia—Heart-leaf leopardbane, heartleaf arnica—US West of Rocky Mountains plus Alaska + Michigan; Canada (from British Columbia to Quebec plus Yukon + Northwest Territories)
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Arnica dealbata—California
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Arnica discoidea—Rayless arnica—California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington
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Arnica fulgens—Foothill arnica, orange arnica, shining leopardbane—USA (west of Rocky Mountains plus Michigan); Canada (from British Columbia to Manitoba)
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Arnica gracilis—Smallhead arnica ( A. latifolia x A. cordifolia)—US (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, Washington); British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territories
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Arnica griscomii—Russia, Canada, Alaska
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Arnica intermedia—eastern Russia (, Khabarovsk, Magadan)
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Arnica lanceolata—Arnica, lanceleaf arnica—US West of Rocky Mountains plus Alaska, Maine New Hampshire, Vermont, New York State; Canada (British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick)
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Arnica latifolia—Broadleaf arnica—western US, western Canada
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Arnica lessingii—Nodding arnica—Kamchatka, Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia
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Arnica lonchophylla—Longleaf arnica—most of Canada; Alaska, Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota
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Arnica longifolia—Longleaf arnica, spearleaf arnica—US west of Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, Alberta
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Arnica louiseana—Lake Louise arnica—British Columbia, Alberta
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Arnica mallotopus—Honshu Island in Japan
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Arnica mollis—Hairy arnica, wooly arnica——US West of Rocky Mountains plus Alaska, New Hampshire + Vermont; Canada (from British Columbia to Quebec plus Yukon + Northwest Territories)
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Arnica montana—Mountain arnica—most of Europe plus Greenland; naturalized in India
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Arnica nevadensis—Nevada arnica—California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington
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Arnica ovata—British Columbia Alberta, Yukon, US West of Rocky Mountains
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Arnica parryi—Nodding arnica, Parry's arnica—British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, US West of Rocky Mountains
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Arnica porsildiorum—Kamchatka, Yukon, Northwest Territories
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Arnica rydbergii—Rydberg arnica, Rydberg's arnica, subalpine arnica—British Columbia, Alberta, northwestern USA
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Arnica sachalinensis—Hokkaido, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, Irkutsk
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Arnica sororia—Twin arnica—British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, US West of Rocky Mountains
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Arnica spathulata—Klamath arnica—California, Oregon
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Arnica unalaschcensis—Alaska arnica—Hokkaido, Honshu, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, Alaska
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Arnica venosa—Shasta County arnica—California
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Arnica viscosa—Mt. Shasta arnica—California, Oregon
Image:Arnica chamissonis0.jpg| Arnica chamissonis
Image:Arnica griscomii.jpg| Arnica griscomii in the Alaskan Interior
Image:Arnicamontana.jpg|Mountain arnica ( Arnica montana)
Image:Arnica longifolia0.jpg|Longleaf arnica ( Arnica longifolia)
External links
