Brickellia microphylla

(Nuttall) A. Gray

Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 3(5): 85. 1852.

Illustrated
Basionym: Bulbostylis microphylla Nuttall Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 286. 1840
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 503. Mentioned on page 493.

Shrubs, 30–70 cm. Stems much branched, pubescent, gland-dotted. Leaves alternate; petioles 0–3 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, ovate to suborbiculate, 3–20 × 1–15 mm, bases acute to obtuse or rounded, margins entire, coarsely dentate or serrate, apices rounded to acute, faces glandular-villous or hispidulous. Heads in loose, paniculiform arrays (often clustered at ends of branches). Peduncles (bracteate) 2–10 mm, viscid to glandular-villous. Involucres cylindric to narrowly campanulate, 7–12 mm. Phyllaries 30–48 in 5–8 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 3–5-striate, (recurved or spreading) unequal, margins scarious (apices acute to acuminate); outer obovate to suborbiculate (glandular-pubescent; mid sometimes 3-toothed with middle tooth elongated), inner linear-oblong (glabrous or sparsely gland-dotted). Florets 8–28(–34); corollas pale yellow, often purple-tinged, 5.5–7 mm. Cypselae 3.5–4.7 mm, glabrous or hirtellous; pappi of 18–24 white, barbellulate bristles.

Distribution

V21-1278-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo., Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2–3 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Stems and peduncles viscid to glandular-villous; florets 15–28(–34) Brickellia microphylla var. microphylla
1 Stems and peduncles glandular-viscid; florets 8–13 Brickellia microphylla var. scabra