Mountain Arnica, a perennial herb of the family Composite, up to 80 cm rhizome creeping, horizontal branching, up to 15 cm and a diameter of 1 cm, outside brownish or dark brown, with numerous thread-like light brown roots. Rhizomes are usually located at a depth of 1 -2 cm, rarely almost on the surface of the soil. Leaves opposite, sessile, entire, glandular-pubescent above, glabrous beneath, up to 15-17 cm, a width of 4-5 cm, the largest assembled in the socket, pressed to the soil surface in the thick grass a few upbeat. Stems arnica single (rarely 2-3), erect, usually branched above, glandular-pubescent, with several pairs of opposite leaves. The tops of the stems and side branches end in large (diameter up to 3 cm) inflorescences - baskets. Involucre campanulas baskets, two-row, consisting of oblong-lance late, acute, greenish-brown leaves. Receptacle slightly convex, pitted, with short bristly hairs around the pits. Marginal flowers in the number of 11-20, ligulae, pistil late. Median flowers tubular, bisexual, numerous (up to 150).

Duration of flowering one basket about 10 days. Flowers bloom in baskets from the edges toward the center. Fruits of dirty gray, cylindrical, dense pubescence achene with pappies. Blooms in June - July and the fruit ripens in July - the first half of August. Reproduces mainly vegetative (rhizome). Seed reproduction, despite the formation of a significant number of germinating seeds is rare. Plants grown from seed usually bloom in the third year. Distributed in Eurasia. Rare and endangered species listed in the Red Book. Increases in light of pine (mainly bilberry type), pine and spruce and birch (rare in aspen) forests, forest clearings, forest edges, clearings, at forest roads, in small groups or individually, rarely forms a small bush, found mainly on sandy medium moist acidic soils. Mountain arnica light-requiring and therefore does not grow under the canopy.

Contraindications and possible Arnica Montana side effects: mountain arnica preparations have certain toxicity, so they apply only as intended and under the supervision of a doctor. With an overdose of medication arnica may experience chills, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting. In some cases, marked dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.

Use of Arnica Montana in other areas. Used in the distillery industry. In veterinary medicine water and alcohol tincture is used in diseases of the eye, and bruises and sprains; inside - as anthelminthic and weaknesses. In some Western European countries the leaves are used instead of tobacco. Honey plant. Ornamental.