Asteraceae6.html

Idaho Mountain Wildflowers

Aster (Sunflower) Family: Asteraceae

Yellow daisy-like flowers (continued)

Ballhead groundsel (or ragweed), Senecio sphaerocephalus Greene (left). Groundsels are also known as butterweeds or ragworts—the latter from the ragged appearance of the flowers. This plant's species name, sphaerocephalus means “round-headed.” It is a common perennial in our area, blooming early in the spring while there is snow on surrounding mountains. Because "spring" in the mountains is relative, this plant blooms well into the summer at higher elevations, almost to treeline. In addition to their rounded configuration (the meaning of sphaerocephalus) they have black-tipped bracts that cup each flowerhead. Its alternate leaves, stemmed at the base, become much smaller and stemless as they ascend the stem.
Butterweed groundsel, Butterweed, or Tall ragwort, Senecio serra Hook. (right). Butterweeds grow all over the United States. They bloom abundantly in our area in recently moist meadows from midsummer on, depending on elevation Many small flowers arise from a myriad of stemlets. Lanceolate leaves without stemlets attach directly to the plant's stems. The individual blooms have a ragged appearance, common to senecios in general. The species name, serra, means "toothed" or "serrated," referring to the leaves, {although, confusingly, the leaves in some plants are smooth-edged). A related plant, Senecio triangularis Hook., has a very similar appearance except for its broader triangular leaves.

Western Hawkweed, Hieracium scouleri Hook. (formerly Hieracium cynoglossoides). The half inch wide flowerheads (left) are without disk florets. All parts of the plant save the flowerhead itself are notably hairy and the sap is milky—both help to identify the plant. It is a common plant that blooms from mid-summer on as high as the subalpine zone. The name hieraceum name was derived from the Greek hierax for “hawk.” John Scouler (1804-1871) was a naturalist who visited the Northwest briefly in 1825-6.
Low hawksbeard, Crepis modocensis Greene (right). The low hawksbeard has only ray flowers. Its leaves are deeply incised, long-stemmed, and pinnate (feather-like). The Greek word krepis means “sandal,” apparently used by Theophrastus for a similar plant. The name, modocensis, refers to Modoc County in California. Other Crepis species also grow in Idaho; the form of their deeply serrated leaves helps to identify them, although a tendency to cross-breed may make identification difficult.

Stemless goldenweed, Stenotus acaulis (Nutt.) Nutt. (left). Although the stemless goldenweed was included in the genus Haplopappus for many decades, it has recently been returned to Thomas Nuttall’s original classification (according to botanical nomenclatural rules, the earliest published name always has priority). He apparently derived the generic name Stenotus from the Greek stenos, a word that means “narrow,” probably for the shape of its stemless (acaulis) leaves. The plant grows from foothills to alpine tundra where this one was photographed.
Woolly goldenweed, Stenotus lanuginosus (A. Gray) Greene var. andersonii (Rydb.) C. A. Morse (right). The woolly goldenweed (formerly Haplopappus lanuginosus var. andersonii) is commonly seen in our mountains from montane to the subalpine zones growing, typically on rocky or gravelly soil. The plant is characterized by basally clustered, soft, narrow, rather hairy leaves. The showy flowerhead has a prominent disk and wide, deep-yellow rays.

Shrubby goldenweed, Ericameria suffruticosa (Nutt.) G. L. Nesom. The shrubby goldenweed (formerly Haplopappus suffruticosus) is a summer-blooming plant that grows in tight shrubby clusters (left) at high elevations, sometimes turning barren, south-facing slopes close to treeline a bright yellow The flowerheads (right) are few-rayed (5-9) with bristly central disks. Crisp-edged leaves are covered with fine hair. The plants have a very strong, but not unpleasant aromatic odor that fills the air even before the plants have bloomed.

Common eriophyllum, Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) J. Forbes var. integrifolium (Hook.) Smiley (left). Various common names including “woolly sunflower” have been suggested for this attractive composite, but it is usually known simply as an “eriophyllum” (eri-OFF-illum). The leaves are variably covered with fine hairs giving them a silvery color, explaining the species name, lanatum (“woolly”). They grow to subalpine elevations, blooming from late spring into the summer. Lewis and Clark saw eriophyllums growing in meadows above their camp on the Clearwater River near present day Kamiah, Idaho, where they gathered two specimens (of another variety) on June 6, 1806; the plant was then unknown to science.
Curly cup gumweed, Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal (right) is an odd plant, because its flower cups contain a viscous, resinous fluid. Native Americans used the resin to treat skin conditions, and respiratory problems. The leaves were used for tea, and the buds were chewed as gum. The Latin species name, squarrosa, means “bent at right angles,” referring to bracts that turn outward at the base of the immature heads forming the resin-filled “curlycup.” Gumweeds grow along mountain roadsides, often in great numbers, blooming from early to mid-summer. The name Grindelia honors David Hieronymus Grindel (1776-1836) a Russian botanist. Lewis and Clark collected another variety of this plant in present day Nebraska on August 17, 1804.

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	Ballhead groundsel (or ragweed), Senecio sphaerocephalus Greene (left). Groundsels are also known as butterweeds or ragworts—the latter from the ragged appearance of the flowers. This plant's species name, sphaerocephalus means “round-headed.” It is a common perennial in our area, blooming early in the spring while there is snow on surrounding mountains. Because "spring" in the mountains is relative, this plant blooms well into the summer at higher elevations, almost to treeline. In addition to their rounded configuration (the meaning of sphaerocephalus) they have black-tipped bracts that cup each flowerhead. Its alternate leaves, stemmed at the base, become much smaller and stemless as they ascend the stem. Butterweed groundsel, Butterweed, or Tall ragwort, Senecio serra Hook. (right). Butterweeds grow all over the United States. They bloom abundantly in our area in recently moist meadows from midsummer on, depending on elevation Many small flowers arise from a myriad of stemlets. Lanceolate leaves without stemlets attach directly to the plant's stems. The individual blooms have a ragged appearance, common to senecios in general. The species name, serra, means "toothed" or "serrated," referring to the leaves, {although, confusingly, the leaves in some plants are smooth-edged). A related plant, Senecio triangularis Hook., has a very similar appearance except for its broader triangular leaves.
	Western Hawkweed, Hieracium scouleri Hook. (formerly Hieracium cynoglossoides). The half inch wide flowerheads (left) are without disk florets. All parts of the plant save the flowerhead itself are notably hairy and the sap is milky—both help to identify the plant. It is a common plant that blooms from mid-summer on as high as the subalpine zone. The name hieraceum name was derived from the Greek hierax for “hawk.” John Scouler (1804-1871) was a naturalist who visited the Northwest briefly in 1825-6. *Low hawksbeard, Crepis modocensis* Greene** (right). The low hawksbeard has only ray flowers. Its leaves are deeply incised, long-stemmed, and pinnate (feather-like). The Greek word krepis means “sandal,” apparently used by Theophrastus for a similar plant. The name, modocensis, refers to Modoc County in California. Other Crepis species also grow in Idaho; the form of their deeply serrated leaves helps to identify them, although a tendency to cross-breed may make identification difficult.
	*Stemless goldenweed, Stenotus acaulis (Nutt.) Nutt.* (left). Although the stemless goldenweed was included in the genus Haplopappus for many decades, it has recently been returned to Thomas Nuttall’s original classification (according to botanical nomenclatural rules, the earliest published name always has priority). He apparently derived the generic name Stenotus from the Greek stenos, a word that means “narrow,” probably for the shape of its stemless (acaulis) leaves. The plant grows from foothills to alpine tundra where this one was photographed. *Woolly goldenweed, Stenotus lanuginosus* (A. Gray) Greene var. andersonii (Rydb.) C. A. Morse** (right). The woolly goldenweed (formerly Haplopappus lanuginosus var. andersonii) is commonly seen in our mountains from montane to the subalpine zones growing, typically on rocky or gravelly soil. The plant is characterized by basally clustered, soft, narrow, rather hairy leaves. The showy flowerhead has a prominent disk and wide, deep-yellow rays.
	*Shrubby goldenweed, Ericameria suffruticosa* (Nutt.) G. L. Nesom.** The shrubby goldenweed (formerly Haplopappus suffruticosus) is a summer-blooming plant that grows in tight shrubby clusters (left) at high elevations, sometimes turning barren, south-facing slopes close to treeline a bright yellow The flowerheads (right) are few-rayed (5-9) with bristly central disks. Crisp-edged leaves are covered with fine hair. The plants have a very strong, but not unpleasant aromatic odor that fills the air even before the plants have bloomed.
	*Common eriophyllum, Eriophyllum lanatum* (Pursh) J. Forbes var. integrifolium (Hook.) Smiley** (left). Various common names including “woolly sunflower” have been suggested for this attractive composite, but it is usually known simply as an “eriophyllum” (eri-OFF-illum). The leaves are variably covered with fine hairs giving them a silvery color, explaining the species name, lanatum (“woolly”). They grow to subalpine elevations, blooming from late spring into the summer. Lewis and Clark saw eriophyllums growing in meadows above their camp on the Clearwater River near present day Kamiah, Idaho, where they gathered two specimens (of another variety) on June 6, 1806; the plant was then unknown to science. *Curly cup gumweed, Grindelia squarrosa* (Pursh) Dunal** (right) is an odd plant, because its flower cups contain a viscous, resinous fluid. Native Americans used the resin to treat skin conditions, and respiratory problems. The leaves were used for tea, and the buds were chewed as gum. The Latin species name, squarrosa, means “bent at right angles,” referring to bracts that turn outward at the base of the immature heads forming the resin-filled “curlycup.” Gumweeds grow along mountain roadsides, often in great numbers, blooming from early to mid-summer. The name Grindelia honors David Hieronymus Grindel (1776-1836) a Russian botanist. Lewis and Clark collected another variety of this plant in present day Nebraska on August 17, 1804.