Arnica montana

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Arnica montana

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Arnica
Species: A. montana
Binomial name
Arnica montana
L.

Arnica montana (also known as leopard's bane, wolf's bane, mountain tobacco and mountain arnica),[1] is a European flowering plant with large yellow capitula.

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[edit] Distribution and habitat

Arnica montana
Arnica montana

A. montana is endemic to Europe, from southern Iberia to southern Scandinavia and the Carpathians. It is absent from the British Isles and the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas. A. montana grows in nutrient-poor silcaceous meadows up to nearly 3000 m. It is rare overall, but may be locally abundant. It is becoming rarer, particularly in the north of its distribution, largely due to increasingly intensive agriculture. In more upland regions, it may also be found on nutrient-poor moors and heaths.

[edit] Form

A. montana has tall stems (20–60 cm), supporting usually a single flower head. Most of the leaves are in a basal rosette, but one or two pairs may be found on the stem and are, unusually for composites, opposite. The flower heads are yellow, approximately 5 cm in diameter, and appear from May to August. It is used in homeopathy for traumatic injuries.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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