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northern mule's ears

woolly mule's ears

Habit Plants glabrous. Plants tomentose, denser below heads and at bases.
Stems

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

erect, 30–72 cm.

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.

ovate-lanceolate to obovate-oblanceolate, 18–32.5 × 5.5–15.3 cm, sometimes ± decurrent;

margins entire;

surfaces tomentose, becoming glabrate;

petioles 10.5–19 cm.

Cauline leaves

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

margins entire, sessile.

ovate-lanceolate to obovate-oblanceolate, 5–21 × 2–7.5 cm;

petioles 0.5–8.6 cm.

Inflorescences

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

peduncles 0.2–7.5 cm.

terminal heads 1; larger; axillary heads 0–3, sometimes reduced;

peduncles 1.9–5 cm.

Involucres

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

terminal 17–30 × 10–20 mm; axillary 15–25 × 10–15 mm.

Ray florets

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

rays 22–44 × 5–13 mm.

larger heads 8–13; smaller heads 7–10, yellow;

rays 20–35 × 6–9 mm.

Disc florets

9–11 mm.

~9 mm.

Phyllaries

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

surfaces glabrous, not ciliate.

ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 17–34 × 5–10 mm;

surfaces tomentose, not ciliate.

Fruits

7–8 × 1.3 mm, glabrous;

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

9–12 × 1.5–2 mm, loosely villous;

pappus scales subulate, 1–3, 2–3 mm, ciliate; crowns 0.3–1 mm.

Paleae

15–18 mm.

15–18 mm.

Wyethia amplexicaulis

Wyethia mollis

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[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.

Grassy areas. Flowering Jun–Aug. 1300–2000 m. BR, ECas. CA, NV. Native.

“Mollis” means soft, in reference to the hairs.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 368
Abigail (Abby) Moore
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 369
Abigail (Abby) Moore
Sibling taxa
W. angustifolia, W. helianthoides, W. mollis
W. amplexicaulis, W. angustifolia, W. helianthoides
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