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northern mule's ears

Habit Plants glabrous.
Stems

erect; (15)30–62 cm, with sessile glands.

Basal leaves

elliptic to oblanceolate, rarely lanceolate; (18)22–46 × 3.6–12 cm, tapering to both ends;

margins entire to remotely toothed;

surfaces glabrous, often shiny with resin;

petioles 0–16 cm.

Cauline leaves

blades lanceolate to elliptic, 7–21 × 1.8–6 cm;

margins entire, sessile.

Inflorescences

terminal heads 1; larger; axillary heads 2–5; smaller;

peduncles 0.2–7.5 cm.

Involucres

terminal 20–35 × 20–25 mm; axillary 12–21 × 11–20 mm.

Ray florets

larger heads 11–21; smaller heads 7–15, yellow;

rays 22–44 × 5–13 mm.

Disc florets

9–11 mm.

Phyllaries

ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 16–30 × 4–12 mm;

surfaces glabrous, not ciliate.

Fruits

7–8 × 1.3 mm, glabrous;

pappus scales ovate, 1–2 mm; crowns 0.5–1 mm.

Paleae

15–18 mm.

Wyethia amplexicaulis

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Dry, open areas. Flowering May–Jul. 100–2300 m. BR, BW, Col, Owy. ID, NV, WA; southeast to CO. Native.

Wyethia amplexicaulis generally grows in drier areas than does W. helianthoides, but the two species form the hybrid W. × cusickii where they meet. “Amplexicaulis” refers to the cauline leaves, which are generally sessile and more or less clasp the stem.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 368
Abigail (Abby) Moore
Sibling taxa
W. angustifolia, W. helianthoides, W. mollis
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