OregonFlora: Balsamorhiza macrophylla vs. Balsamorhiza incana

	Balsamorhiza macrophylla	Balsamorhiza incana
	large-leaf balsamroot	hoary balsamroot, woolly balsamroot
Stems	up to 35 cm, tomentose; from single taproot.	9–43 cm, tomentose; from single taproot.
Leaves	lanceolate-oblong, 1-pinnately divided; pinnae toothed, with teeth only on lower margins; surfaces tomentose; basal leaves in 1–few rosettes; blades 12–22 × 6–8 cm; pinnae 10–36 mm wide; petioles 7–20 cm; cauline blades 1.5–5 × 0.3–0.9 cm; petioles 6–9 cm.	ovate-lanceolate, 1-pinnately divided; margins toothed, especially distally, sometimes also on proximally; surfaces tomentose and often lacking glands; basal leaves in 1–few rosettes; blades 11–22 × 5–8.5 cm; pinnae 5–15 mm wide; petioles 4–17 cm; cauline leaves in 1 pair, sometimes very near base of stem; blades 1.5–9.5 × 0.6–4.5 cm; petioles 4–8 cm.
Inflorescences	with 1 terminal head.	with 1 terminal head.
Involucres	14–18 × 25–30 mm.	11–18 × 18–28 mm.
Ray florets	14–16, yellow; rays 35–40 × 8–11 mm.	deciduous, 13–22, yellow; rays 25–35 × 7–10 mm.
Disc florets	~9 mm.	7.5–9 mm.
Phyllaries	ovate-lanceolate, 20–25 × 5–6 mm; tips acuminate, tomentose.	lanceolate, 15–20 × 3–5 mm; tips acuminate.
Fruits	8–9 mm, glabrous.	5–6 mm, glabrous.
Paleae	10–12 mm.	~10 mm.
2n	=100 ± 2.	=38.

	Balsamorhiza macrophylla	Balsamorhiza incana
Distribution	[WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	[WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Dry, open areas. Flowering May–Jul. 700–1400 m. BW. ID; east to WY. Native. True B. macrophylla is a decaploid centered on the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and Idaho. The plants in Oregon and western Idaho are also high polyploids, but they differ morphologically from classic B. macrophylla in their denser pubescence and the shape of their leaves. These eastern plants have been given the name B. macrophylla var. idahoensis. However, further study will likely show that they have a different parentage than B. macrophylla s.s. The specific epithet “macrophylla” means large-leaved, as the leaves are much larger than those of the other members of section Balsamorhiza.	Open, rocky areas. Flowering Apr–Jun. 300–1500 m. BW, Col. ID, WA; east to WY. Native. Balsamorhiza incana is unusual among species of section Balsamorhiza in remaining fairly distinct throughout its wide range. It occurs generally north and east of the widespread B. hispidula/B. hookeri complex. Its hybrids with B. sagittata have been given the name B. × tomentosa. The specific epithet refers to the whitish appearance from the dense pubescence.
Source	Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 200 Abigail (Abby) Moore	Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 200 Abigail (Abby) Moore
Sibling taxa	B. careyana, B. deltoidea, B. deltoidea x Balsamorhiza sericea, B. hispidula, B. hookeri, B. incana, B. lanata, B. rosea, B. sagittata, B. sericea, B. serrata	B. careyana, B. deltoidea, B. deltoidea x Balsamorhiza sericea, B. hispidula, B. hookeri, B. lanata, B. macrophylla, B. rosea, B. sagittata, B. sericea, B. serrata
Synonyms	Balsamorhiza hookeri var. idahoensis
Web links	Local floras: OR Local Web sites: Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	Local floras: OR, WA Local Web sites: Flora NW, PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Balsamorhiza incana

large-leaf balsamroot

hoary balsamroot, woolly balsamroot

Stems

up to 35 cm, tomentose; from single taproot.

9–43 cm, tomentose; from single taproot.

Leaves

lanceolate-oblong, 1-pinnately divided;

pinnae toothed, with teeth only on lower margins;

surfaces tomentose;

basal leaves in 1–few rosettes;

blades 12–22 × 6–8 cm;

pinnae 10–36 mm wide;

petioles 7–20 cm;

cauline blades 1.5–5 × 0.3–0.9 cm;

petioles 6–9 cm.

ovate-lanceolate, 1-pinnately divided;

margins toothed, especially distally, sometimes also on proximally;

surfaces tomentose and often lacking glands;

basal leaves in 1–few rosettes;

blades 11–22 × 5–8.5 cm;

pinnae 5–15 mm wide;

petioles 4–17 cm;

cauline leaves in 1 pair, sometimes very near base of stem;

blades 1.5–9.5 × 0.6–4.5 cm;

petioles 4–8 cm.

Inflorescences

with 1 terminal head.

Involucres

14–18 × 25–30 mm.

11–18 × 18–28 mm.

Ray florets

14–16, yellow;

rays 35–40 × 8–11 mm.

deciduous, 13–22, yellow;

rays 25–35 × 7–10 mm.

Disc florets

~9 mm.

7.5–9 mm.

Phyllaries

ovate-lanceolate, 20–25 × 5–6 mm;

tips acuminate, tomentose.

lanceolate, 15–20 × 3–5 mm;

tips acuminate.

Fruits

8–9 mm, glabrous.

5–6 mm, glabrous.

Paleae

10–12 mm.

~10 mm.

=100 ± 2.

=38.

Balsamorhiza incana

Distribution

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Dry, open areas. Flowering May–Jul. 700–1400 m. BW. ID; east to WY. Native.

True B. macrophylla is a decaploid centered on the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and Idaho. The plants in Oregon and western Idaho are also high polyploids, but they differ morphologically from classic B. macrophylla in their denser pubescence and the shape of their leaves. These eastern plants have been given the name B. macrophylla var. idahoensis. However, further study will likely show that they have a different parentage than B. macrophylla s.s. The specific epithet “macrophylla” means large-leaved, as the leaves are much larger than those of the other members of section Balsamorhiza.

Open, rocky areas. Flowering Apr–Jun. 300–1500 m. BW, Col. ID, WA; east to WY. Native.

Balsamorhiza incana is unusual among species of section Balsamorhiza in remaining fairly distinct throughout its wide range. It occurs generally north and east of the widespread B. hispidula/B. hookeri complex. Its hybrids with B. sagittata have been given the name B. × tomentosa. The specific epithet refers to the whitish appearance from the dense pubescence.

Source

Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 200
Abigail (Abby) Moore

Sibling taxa