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large-leaf balsamroot

silky balsamroot, silvery balsamroot

Stems

up to 35 cm, tomentose; from single taproot.

6–38 cm, sericeous; 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 almost or entirely to midribs, often more deeply divided proximally than distally;

margins entire or few-toothed, occasionally some lower leaves serrate on lower margins;

surfaces sericeous; more densely so abaxially than adaxially;

basal leaves in 1–few rosettes;

blades 3–18 × 1–7 cm;

pinnae 6–16 mm wide;

petioles 3–17 cm;

cauline leaves in 1 pair; opposite, reduced;

blades 2.5–4 × 1–1.6 cm;

petioles 2.5–4 cm.

Inflorescences

with 1 terminal head.

with 1 terminal head.

Involucres

14–18 × 25–30 mm.

12–15 × 15–22 mm.

Ray florets

14–16, yellow;

rays 35–40 × 8–11 mm.

13–14, yellow;

rays 12–20 × 5–8 mm.

Disc florets

~9 mm.

~9 mm.

Phyllaries

ovate-lanceolate, 20–25 × 5–6 mm;

tips acuminate, tomentose.

ovate, 10–17 × 5–9 mm;

tips acuminate, sericeous.

Fruits

8–9 mm, glabrous.

6–7 × 1.5 mm, glabrous.

Paleae

10–12 mm.

13–14 mm.

2n

=100 ± 2.

Balsamorhiza macrophylla

Balsamorhiza sericea

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.

Serpentine. Flowering Apr–May. 400–600 m. Sisk. CA. Native.

Balsamorhiza sericea is endemic to serpentine-influenced soils and is thus far known only from Josephine County, Oregon, and adjacent Siskiyou and Trinity counties, California. The specific epithet “sericea” refers to the pubescence.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 200
Abigail (Abby) Moore
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 201
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. rosea, B. sagittata, B. serrata
Synonyms Balsamorhiza hookeri var. idahoensis Balsamorhiza macrolepis, Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. platylepis, Balsamorhiza platylepis
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