The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

golden-aster, hairy false goldenaster, hairy goldaster, hairy golden-aster

mountain camphorweed, rockyscree false goldenaster

Habit Perennials, (5–)16–40(–70) cm; taprooted. Perennials, 17–50(–80) cm; taprooted.
Stems

1–50+, decumbent to erect (sometimes brown or reddish brown, sometimes whitish distally, sometimes ± brittle), sparsely to densely hispido-strigose, sparsely to abundantly long-hispid, eglandular or sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular.

1–30+, ascending to erect (sometimes reddish brown), sparsely to densely hispido-strigose, sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular.

Leaves

generally not crowded;

proximal cauline petiolate, blades oblanceolate, (90–)220–400(–600) × (2–)4–8(–13) mm, bases cuneate, margins flat, usually entire, rarely with 1–2 apical teeth, strigoso-ciliate, sparsely to abundantly long-hispido-strigose proximally, apices acute to obtuse, sometimes mucronate, faces sparsely to densely hispido-strigose, eglandular or sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular;

distal sessile, blades usually lanceolate or oblanceolate to oblong, rarely ovate or lanceolate-triangular, (4–)15–28(–42) × (1.5–)3.5–7(–12.5) mm, bases attenuate to convex-cuneate to rounded, margins usually flat, rarely remotely undulate, strigoso-ciliate, sparsely to abundantly long-hispido-strigose proximally, apices acute to obtuse, sometimes mucronate, faces sparsely to densely hispido-strigose, eglandular or sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular.

proximal cauline subpetiolate to sessile, blades oblanceolate, (13–)22–46(–60) × (3.5–)5.3–10(–14) mm, bases attenuate to somewhat rounded, margins entire, strigoso-ciliate (with a few longer hispid cilia near bases), apices mucronate, faces sparsely to densely strigoso-canescent, sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular;

distal sessile, blades ovate to lanceolate, 12–34(–55) × 4–15 mm, little reduced to larger distally, margins entire to somewhat irregularly sinuate, sparsely to densely hispido-strigose (large cilia few to numerous, usually along much of margins, sometimes just proximally), faces sparsely to densely strigose, sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular (sometimes more glandular than more proximal blades).

Peduncles

(4–)15–41(–98) mm, sparsely to densely hispido-canescent, eglandular or sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular;

bracts 1–7+, usually linear-oblanceolate, rarely leaflike and linear-oblanceolate, usually greatly reduced, margins usually flat, rarely remotely undulate, strigoso-ciliate, sparsely to abundantly long-hispido-strigose proximally, apices acute, sometimes mucronate, faces sparsely to densely hispido-strigose, eglandular or sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular; rarely 1–2 leaflike, oblanceolate bracts subtending heads.

1–20 mm, sparsely to densely strigoso-canescent, sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular;

bracts 1–4, proximal ovate to narrowly lanceolate (bases sometimes attenuate and winged short-subpetiolate), leaflike, distalmost often distinct from distal leaves, usually subtending or just proximal to and usually surpassing heads (obscure in narrow-leaved, hairy plants).

Involucres

narrowly cylindric to campanulate, (5–)6–9.5(–13) mm.

cylindric to campanulate, 5.7–9(–10.3) mm.

Ray florets

(5–)10–20(–38);

laminae (3.5–)6.5–11(–20) × 1–2(–3) mm.

(5–)11–21(–34);

laminae (7–)9–13(–16) × 1–2.7 mm.

Disc florets

(10–)20–50(–85);

corollas barely ampliate, (4–)5–6(–8) mm, glabrous or glabrate (few, minute hairs), lobes 0.4–0.75(–1) mm, glabrous or glabrate (hairs 0.1–0.35 mm).

(12–)26–66(–110);

corollas barely ampliate, 5–7.5 mm, glabrate, lobes 0.4–0.9 mm, sparsely hairy (hairs 0.05–0.2(–0.3) mm).

Phyllaries

in 4–5 series, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate or triangular-lancelate, unequal (outer 1/5–1/3 length of inner), margins scarious, sometimes reddish purple distally, ciliate distally or apically, faces sparsely to densely strigose, eglandular or sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular.

in 4–5 series, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, unequal (outer lengths 1/4–1/3 inner), scarious, faces sparsely to moderately strigose, sparsely stipitate-glandular.

Heads

1–16(–42), in usually open, corymbiform, rarely paniculiform arrays.

(1–)7–15(–43), in open to compact, corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

monomorphic, obconic, compressed, 1.7–2.7(–3.4) mm, ribs 4–8(–10) (rarely brownish), faces sparsely to moderately strigose;

pappi off-white, outer of linear scales 0.25–1 mm, inner of 30–45 bristle (4–)5–6.5(–8.5) mm, longest weakly clavate (usually equaling or longer than corollas).

monomorphic, obconic, compressed, 1.5–3(–4) mm, ribs 10–12 (sometimes golden brown to brown), faces sparsely to moderately strigose;

pappi off-white, outer of linear scales 0.25–1 mm, inner of 35–45 bristles (4.3–)5–6.5(–8) mm, longest acute to weakly clavate.

2n

= 18, 36.

= 18, 36 (atypical plants).

Heterotheca villosa

Heterotheca fulcrata

Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; IA; ID; IL; KS; MI; MN; MT; ND; NE; NM; NV; OR; SD; TX; UT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; ON; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CO; ID; NM; NV; TX; UT; WY; n Mexico
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 9 (9 in the flora).

Heterotheca villosa is variable in stem height, leaf base shape, stem and leaf indument, number of heads, and number of florets. Thus, the species is difficult to circumscribe because each variety has a suite of diagnostic traits and a distribution that is restricted to a portion of the range of the species. Generally, var. minor (glandular), and to a lesser extent, var. foliosa (eglandular) are the glue holding the other varieties together in a widely distributed polymorphic species; this is comparable to the situation in H. sessiliflora, in which var. echioides is the glue. Variety minor hybridizes with all other varieties. Numerous local races occur that are sometimes quite distinct when extreme, but they intergrade with one or more other races, especially in var. minor (J. C. Semple 1996). The species is divided here on the basis of indument features, leaf shape, and stem height, paralleling the infraspecific treatments of H. fulcrata and H. sessiliflora. H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist (1991) and Cronquist (1994) acknowledged the variability of the species and the existence of many local races, but lumped most of these into var. villosa and var. hispida of Chrysopsis villosa, in which they also included H. camporum, H. canescens, H. fulcrata, H. pumila, H. stenophylla var. angustifolia, H. viscida, and H. zionensis. Diploid races are usually distinct from each other, but each has given rise to one or more tetraploid lines that are less distinct. The treatment here is based on the detailed presentation in Semple.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).

Heterotheca fulcrata is distinguished by the one to several, usually distinctive, ovate-lanceolate bracts subtending at least some heads of the arrays; the bases of the bracts are attenuate to sometimes winged-subpetiolate. In plants with large, ovate distal leaves, the bracts are sometimes hidden by the leaves. Rarely, such bracts are missing below most heads or only one is present, making identification problematic, but the leaf margins usually harbor large hispido-strigose cilia along much of their length. The density of hairs and glands on leaves, the size and shape of leaves, and the number of florets vary greatly within the species. Four varieties are recognized on the basis of differences in those traits and in the frequency of large hispido-strigose hairs along the leaf margins. All four are sympatric along the Mogollon Rim and in the mountains south of the escarpment, in southeastern Arizona and adjacent New Mexico. Intermediate forms occur throughout the range; pure and mixed varietal populations occur in areas of sympatry. Plants in southern Idaho, northern Nevada, and northern Wyoming are atypical and easily misidentified as aberrant forms of H. villosa.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Heterotheca Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Heterotheca
Sibling taxa
H. camporum, H. canescens, H. fulcrata, H. grandiflora, H. jonesii, H. marginata, H. monarchensis, H. oregona, H. pumila, H. rutteri, H. sessiliflora, H. shevockii, H. stenophylla, H. subaxillaris, H. viscida, H. zionensis
H. camporum, H. canescens, H. grandiflora, H. jonesii, H. marginata, H. monarchensis, H. oregona, H. pumila, H. rutteri, H. sessiliflora, H. shevockii, H. stenophylla, H. subaxillaris, H. villosa, H. viscida, H. zionensis
Subordinate taxa
H. villosa var. ballardii, H. villosa var. depressa, H. villosa var. foliosa, H. villosa var. minor, H. villosa var. nana, H. villosa var. pedunculata, H. villosa var. scabra, H. villosa var. sierrablancensis, H. villosa var. villosa
H. fulcrata var. amplifolia, H. fulcrata var. arizonica, H. fulcrata var. fulcrata, H. fulcrata var. senilis
Key
1. Stems sparsely to densely hispido-strigose, sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular; distal cauline leaves sparsely to densely hispido-strigose (hairs 2–100/mm²), sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular (glands 2–60/mm²)
→ 2
1. Stems moderately to densely hispido-strigose, eglandular or sparsely stipitate-glandular; distal leaf faces moderately to densely strigose (hairs 25–200/mm²), eglandular or sparsely stipitate-glandular (rarely more densely so)
→ 5
2. Distal cauline leaf blades ovate to oblanceolate or lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, rarely oblong, glands sometimes more numerous than hairs/mm²; arrays corymbiform
→ 3
2. Distal cauline leaf blades linear, lanceolate, narrowly to broadly oblong, or narrowly ovate, glands less numerous than hairs/mm²; arrays congested, corymbiform to subumbelliform; w Great Plains, foothills of Front Range, White Mountains (New Mexico)
→ 4
3. Distal cauline leaf blades usually narrowly to broadly oblanceolate, sometimes oblong, sometimes ovate in mountains, margins flat to remotely undulate, apices obtuse to acute, indument sparse to moderate; arrays compact, branches usually not very long; phyllaries usually moderately strigose (hairs to 1 mm), often stipitate-glandular
var. minor
3. Distal cauline leaf blades narrowly lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, apices sharply acute, margins flat; arrays lax, branches often very long; phyllaries sparsely short-strigose, hairs usually less than 0.3 mm, sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular; rock outcrops, margins of arroyos, rocky banks, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, disjunct in Little San Bernardino Mountains, California
var. scabra
4. Distal leaf blades often perpendicular to stems, linear to broadly oblong, sometimes small (less than 10 mm), faces moderately hispido-strigose (hairs 9–56/mm²), moderately to densely stipitate-glandular (glands 9–36/mm²), glands sometimes more than hairs; ray laminae (3.5–)6.9–11(–12) mm; lower elevations in mountains and foothills, Colorado and New Mexico, Great Plains, Colorado, w Nebraska, New Mexico, se Wyoming
var. nana
4. Distal leaf blades (perpendicular proximally, ascending distally) lanceolate to ovate-oblong, faces moderately to densely strigose (hairs usually 42–93/mm²), sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular (glands usually 4–37/mm²); ray laminae (8.5–)9–12(–14) mm; mid elevations of Sierra Blanca, New Mexico, and mountains to s, w
var. sierrablancensis
5. Stems often abundantly long-hirsute; distal cauline leaf blades narrowly to broadly oblong; bracts subtending heads often surpassing them
→ 6
5. Stems sparsely to moderately long-hirsute; distal cauline leaf blades narrowly to broadly oblanceolate; bracts subtending heads small or none
→ 7
6. Leaf faces moderately strigose (hairs usually not obscuring faces); involucres broadly campanulate; rays showy, (12–)17–30 (averaging 21), laminae (8.5–)9.9–14.5 mm (averaging 11.5 mm); ne Great Plains
var. ballardii
6. Leaf faces moderately to densely hispido-strigose (hairs sometimes obscuring faces); involucres narrowly campanulate; rays less showy, (7–)13–22 (averaging 17), laminae 8–11.4(–12.4) mm (averaging 10 mm); mountains and w prairies
var. foliosa
7. Stems moderately to densely strigose, sparsely to abundantly long-hirsute; distal cauline leaf faces moderately strigose (20–60 hairs/mm²); Great Plains, scattered in hills and mountains
var. villosa
7. Stems sparsely long-hirsute; distal cauline leaf faces densely strigose (60–270 hairs/mm²)
→ 8
8. Stems 5–22 cm, sparsely long-hirsute; distal leaf faces densely strigose (84–140 hairs/mm²), sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular; geyser basins, Yellowstone National Park, gravelly stream banks, e Teton National Park, rare further s in Wyoming
var. depressa
8. Stems (12–)30–50(–75) cm, usually sparsely, rarely abundantly long-hirsute; distal leaf faces densely strigose (60–270 hairs/mm²), eglandular or sparsely stipitate-glandular; grasslands, wooded hillsides, mountains, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
var. pedunculata
1. Distal margins of distalmost leaves abundantly long-hispido-strigose; leaf faces moderately hispido-strigose, moderately stipitate-glandular; Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, adjacent Mexico
var. senilis
1. Distal margins of distal leaves sparsely long-hispido-strigose, often more proximal; leaf faces sparsely to densely strigose (rarely whitish), eglandular or sparsely to densely stipitate-glandular
→ 2
2. Distal cauline leaf faces sparsely to moderately hispido-strigose, moderately stipitate-glandular; leaflike bracts subtending heads not well differentiated from linear-ovate to -lanceolate distal leaves (12–22 mm); involucres 5.7–8.4 mm; ray laminae 7.3–11 mm (averaging 9.6 mm); e Nevada to trans-Pecos Texas, adjacent Mexico
var. arizonica
2. Distal cauline leaf faces sparsely to densely strigose, sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular or eglandular; leaflike bracts subtending heads ovate, usually large, well differentiated; distal cauline leaves ovate, lanceolate or oblong (18–40 mm); involucres 6.5–10.3 mm (averaging 7.8–8.5), ray laminae (8–)8.5–14.5 mm (averaging 11.5 mm); Front Ranges, Colorado, Wyoming, rare in ne Nevada, mountains of n Utah to se Arizona, trans-Pecos Texas, ne Mexico
→ 3
3. Leaves and stems sparsely to moderately hispido-strigose and stipitate-glandular; Front Range, Colorado, se Wyoming, mountains of e Nevada, Utah, n, w Arizona, s New Mexico, n Mexico
var. fulcrata
3. Leaves and stems moderately to densely short-strigose, eglandular or nearly so (small leaves sometimes nearly white); Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
var. amplifolia
Synonyms Amellus villosus, Chrysopsis villosa, Diplogon villosum, Diplopappus villosus Chrysopsis fulcrata
Name authority (Pursh) Shinners: Field & Lab. 19: 71. (1951) (Greene) Shinners: Field & Lab. 19: 71. (1951)
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 2. Treatment author: John C. Semple. FNA vol. 20, p. 242. Treatment author: John C. Semple.
Web links