    arnica  is a genus of perennial, herbaceous plants in the sunflower family (asteraceae). the genus name arnica may be derived from the greek arni, "lamb", in reference to the soft, hairy leaves. this circumboreal and montane (subalpine) genus occurs mostly in the temperate regions of western north america, while two are native to eurasia (a. angustifolia and a. montana).altervista flora italiana, arnica, arnica montana l.  includes photos and european distribution maps arnica used to be included in the tribe senecioneae because it has a flower or pappus of fine bristles. this was soon questioned and nordenstam (1977) placed it tentatively in tribe heliantheae s.l.  this arrangement also became uncertain because of the sesquiterpene lactone chemistry in certain species. lately arnica was placed in an unresolved clade together with madiinae, eupatorieae, heliantheae s.s. and pectidinae. several species, such as arnica montana and a. chamissonis, contain helenalin, a sesquiterpene lactone that is a major ingredient in anti-inflammatory preparations (used mostly for bruises). arnica species are used as food plants by the larvae of some lepidoptera species including bucculatrix arnicella. arnica is also known by the names mountain tobacco and, somewhat confusingly, leopard's bane and wolfsbaneâtwo names that it shares with the entirely separate genus aconitum. ==characteristics== thumb|a.chamissonis 175px|thumb|frigid arnica near a training radar site in the alaskan interior. arnica plants have a deep-rooted, erect stem that is usually unbranched. their downy opposite leaves are borne towar
Arnica Asteraceae_genera Medicinal_plants