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large-leaf balsamroot

Balsamorhiza rosea

rosy balsamroot

Stems

up to 35 cm, tomentose; from single taproot.

5–15 cm, villous-hirsute to villous below heads; 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.

oblong-lanceolate, pinnately lobed from ¼ to ??? to midrib, occasionally some leaves undivided;

margins toothed to crenate with pointed teeth;

surfaces villous-hirsute; more densely so abaxially than adaxially;

basal leaves in 1–few rosettes;

blades 2.5–7 × 1.5–2.8 cm;

pinnae 6–12 mm wide;

petioles 1.5–4.5 cm;

cauline leaves in 1 opposite pair or 0;

blades 0.7–2 × 0.3–1 cm;

petioles 3–4 cm.

Inflorescences

with 1 terminal head.

with 1 terminal head.

Involucres

14–18 × 25–30 mm.

10–13 × 20–25 mm.

Ray florets

14–16, yellow;

rays 35–40 × 8–11 mm.

~13, yellow when young, turning from yellow to pink or red;

rays 10–15 × 7–8 mm.

Disc florets

~9 mm.

~6 mm.

Phyllaries

ovate-lanceolate, 20–25 × 5–6 mm;

tips acuminate, tomentose.

linear to linear-lanceolate, 12–15 × 1–2 cm, villous.

Fruits

8–9 mm, glabrous.

5–6 mm, strigillose.

Paleae

10–12 mm.

11–13 mm.

2n

=100 ± 2.

=38.

Balsamorhiza macrophylla

Balsamorhiza rosea

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–May. 300–400 m. Col. WA. Native.

Balsamorhiza rosea occurs almost entirely in Washington, with one known locality in Oregon.

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. incana, B. lanata, B. macrophylla, B. sagittata, B. sericea, B. serrata
Synonyms Balsamorhiza hookeri var. idahoensis
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