Balsamorhiza macrophylla |
Balsamorhiza deltoidea |
|
---|---|---|
cutleaf balsamroot, Idaho balsamroot, large-leaf balsamroot |
deltoid balsam root, Puget balsamroot |
|
Habit | Plants 30–45(–100) cm. | Plants 20–90 cm. |
Basal leaves | green, ovate to lanceolate, 20–50+ × 8–15 cm (pinnatifid, lobes lanceolate, 20–80+ × 10–40 mm, entire or ± dentate), bases ± cuneate, ultimate margins usually entire (plane or weakly revolute, ciliate), apices obtuse to acute, faces scabrous or piloso-hirtellous to pilose (at least abaxial usually gland-dotted as well). |
blades green, deltate or rounded-deltate to triangular-deltate, 10–25+ × 7–15(–20) cm, bases cordate to sagittate, margins usually crenate to dentate (at least near bases), sometimes entire, apices acute, faces usually sparsely hirtellous to hispidulous, sometimes glabrous (usually gland-dotted, sometimes vernicose). |
Involucres | ± hemispheric, 20–30 mm diam. |
campanulate to hemispheric 15–30+ mm diam. |
Ray laminae | 35–50+ mm. |
20–50 mm. |
Outer phyllaries | lance-ovate or lanceolate to lance-linear, 12–30(–40) mm, equaling or surpassing inner (margins ciliate), apices acute to attenuate. |
oblong to lanceolate or lance-linear, (12–)30–40(–60) mm, usually much surpassing inner, apices acute. |
Heads | usually borne singly. |
usually borne singly, sometimes 2+. |
2n | = 100 ± 2. |
= 38. |
Balsamorhiza macrophylla |
Balsamorhiza deltoidea |
|
Phenology | Flowering May–Jul. | Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Jul). |
Habitat | Deep soils, rocky meadows, sagebrush scrublands, conifer forests | Open hillsides, openings in chaparral or forests |
Elevation | 1000–2400 m (3300–7900 ft) | 60–1800(–2400) m (200–5900(–7900) ft) |
Distribution |
ID; UT; WY
|
CA; OR; WA; BC
|
Discussion | Balsamorhiza macrophylla is a high polyploid; it occurs sympatrically with B. sagittata. It evidently arose from hybridization between B. sagittata and B. hispidula. Balsamorhiza macrophylla has the multi-branched caudices and massive taproots of the former, and the leaf dissection of the latter. No hybrids with other species are known. Presumably, the high-polyploid chromosome complement precludes interbreeding. Plants of var. idahoensis are smaller, are known only from southwestern Idaho and northeastern Utah, and differ from var. macrophylla by being pilose, with strongly shaggy-pilose involucres. More study may determine that var. idahoensis merits specific rank. The Utah populations are not well understood and deserve attention. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Balsamorhiza deltoidea varies in the crenation of the leaf margins. The variability may stem from an old hybridization with B. hookeri or other species of Balsamorhiza. Otherwise, B. deltoidea shows little significant variability except where it hybridizes with B. careyana in the narrows of the Columbia River Gorge. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 21, p. 98. | FNA vol. 21, p. 95. |
Parent taxa | Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Ecliptinae > Balsamorhiza > subg. Balsamorhiza | Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Ecliptinae > Balsamorhiza > subg. Artorhiza |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | B. hookeri var. idahoensis, B. macrophylla var. idahoensis | B. glabrescens |
Name authority | Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 350. (1840) | Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 351. (1840) |
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