Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Other common names
Arizona Wyethia
mule's ears
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Balsamorhiza sagittata, Wyethia amplexicaulis, W. x magna
Height
To nearly 2-1/2 feet
Riparian
No
Tall, upright perennial branched from the base with 1 to a few hairy stems often forming colonies. The hairy, elongated, oval basal leaves provide the common name "mule-ears". 1 to 3 bright yellow, daisy-like flower heads grow at top of the flower stem.
Stems 1 to few; leaves mostly basal, elliptic to lance-like, faces often rough, to 12 inches long; flower heads solitary or 2 to 3 per stem, bracts (phyllaries) 16 to 34 in 1 to 2 series; 11 to 12 ray flowers and 80 to 150 disc flowers, both yellow.
Habitat
Found in dry, sandy areas in meadows, openings in pine, oak or spruce-fir forests, sunny hillsides and on open to wooded slopes.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
6400
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
Flower head is single or in 2 to 3 rounded clusters, consists of 11 to 12 strap-shaped ray flowers encircling a center of 80 to 150 tube-like disc flowers. Below the head is a rosette of leaf-like bracts, each about 1/2 inch long and 3/4 inch wide.
Flower color
Bright yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The mostly basal leaves are rough, hairy, oval to lance-shaped and grow up to 1 foot long. The stem leaves are greatly reduced up the stem and have somewhat hairy surfaces. The bases of the stem leaves may infrequently wrap around the stem (clasping).
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is dry, smooth and 1/2 inch long. Its shape is prism-like with the ray achene being 3-angled and the disc achene 4-angled. Fruit doesn't split open when ripe to release the seed but has a ring of short bristles at the top to help in seed dispersal.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Brown
1 seed is produced by the fruit.