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western goldenrod, western goldentop

Habit Perennials or subshrubs, 40–200 cm.
Stems

(erect, stout) glabrous, glaucous.

Leaves

spreading-ascending to erect;

blades 3- or -5-nerved, linear, 82–100 × 4.3–10 mm, lengths 10–27 times widths, gradually to abruptly reduced distally, herbaceous to firm-herbaceous, margins scabrous, apices abruptly acute to acuminate, faces ± gland-dotted (18–56 dots per mm²), adaxial and vein axils often sparsely hairy.

Involucres

campanulate, 3.7–4.9 mm.

Ray florets

(15–)17–22(–28).

Disc florets

(7–)9–11(–18);

corollas 3.1–4.2 mm.

Phyllaries

stramineous, sometimes green-tipped, outer narrowly lanceolate, inner linear (firm), apices acute to acuminate.

Heads

mostly pedunculate, in relatively narrow, elongate arrays 33–60% of plant heights (often interrupted and with multiple levels).

2n

= 18.

Euthamia occidentalis

Phenology Flowering Jul–Nov.
Habitat Moist to wet soils of streambeds, lake shores, and fresh to saline marshes
Elevation 0–1600 m (0–5200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NE; NM; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; BC; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 100.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Euthamia
Sibling taxa
E. caroliniana, E. graminifolia, E. gymnospermoides, E. leptocephala
Synonyms E. californica, E. linearifolia, Solidago occidentalis
Name authority Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 326. (1840)
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