Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Other common names
large-flowered brickellbush
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
Up to 3 feet
Riparian
No
An upright herbaceous stemmed subshrub (woody base) of few-branched stems with drooping clusters of rayless flower heads hanging from short branches at the tips of mostly leafless stems, flower stems are borne in the upper axils of the leafy stems.
Woody base. Stems few-branched; leaves stemmed, triangular, margins toothed or lobed, tips pointed, up 2-1/2 inches long; loose clusters of flowers nod like tassels at ends of the branches; seeds have white barbed bristles. Plant is glandular and hairy.
Habitat
Found on dry rocky hillsides, often in shaded forests or in canyons.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
Clusters of slightly elongated, nodding rayless flower heads on short branches, flower heads have 20 to 40 disc flowers. The flower head bracts are greenish in 5 to 7 series, outer ones are tail-like appendages tapering to a narrow tip.
Flower color
Whitish to creamy yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are stemmed with prominent veins, smaller on upper stem; blades are 3-veined from their bases, margins can be lobed or somewhat toothed.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
1/4 inch long with small, coarse stiff hairs and topped with a pappus of 20 to 30 white, barbed bristles.
Fruit type
Achene