Smallanthus uvedalia (L.) Mack.

Bear's Foot; Yellow Flower Leafcup

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Bear's Foot is a native herbaceous perennial in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama. Bear's Foot occurs in rich hardwood forests, on limestone outcrops, along streams, and in forest openings. It is a perennial with thick, fleshy roots. The stems are 3-8 feet in height, green in color, and glabrous. The leaves are opposite, petiolate (with winged petioles), triangular to ovate in outline, palmately lobed, toothed, pubescent, and gland dotted. The bases of the leaves form a cup around the stem. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in corymbs. Each head has 4-5 outer phyllaries that are ovate and 7-13 narrower inner phyllaries. Each head has 7-13 fertile, yellow ray flowers and 40-80 functionally staminate yellow disc flowers. The fruit is an obovoid, ribbed, reddish-brown achene. Bear's Foot is sometimes available as seed or plants from nurseries. It prefers a moderately rich soil in full to partial sun. Because of its size it should be used at the back of beds or along fence line or woodland edges. Bear's Foot attracts a wide range of pollinators and its seed are eaten by several species of birds. Tinctures and ointments have been made from Bear’s Foot to treat inflammation, rheumatism, and skin sores. Until recently this species was known by the name Polymnia uvedalia (Linnaeus) Linnaeus, and may appear by that name in older publications.--A. Diamond

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Native

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