Brickellia atractyloides

A. Gray

Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 8: 290. 1870.

Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 494. Mentioned on page 491.

Shrubs, 20–50 cm. Stems densely branched, glandular-puberulent. Leaves opposite or alternate; petioles 0–3 mm; blades 3–4-nerved from bases (veins prominent), deltate, lanceolate, or ovate, 10–50 × 5–25 mm, bases acute to truncate or cordate, margins usually sharply dentate or dentate-serrate, rarely entire, apices acute to acuminate, faces glabrous or strigose and minutely glandular-puberulent. Heads in open, paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 10–70 mm, hispid to hispidulous and stipitate-glandular. Involucres cylindric to broadly campanulate, 9–15 mm. Phyllaries 24–33 in 3–4 series, green, 3–16-striate, subequal or unequal, margins narrowly scarious (apices acute to acuminate); outer (often bright green, 4–16-striate) lance-linear, linear-ovate, or broadly ovate, inner (pale green, 3–4-striate) linear or narrowly lanceolate (often chartaceous, scabrellous, often glandular). Florets 40–90; corollas pale yellow-green or cream, often purple-tinged, 6–8 mm. Cypselae 3–5.5 mm, scabrellous; pappi of 18–25 smooth or barbellulate bristles.

Distribution

V21-1239-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., Utah, nw Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

All three varieties of Brickellia atractyloides often intergrade and are not readily distinguished in some cases.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Phyllaries: outer broadly ovate Brickellia atractyloides var. atractyloides
1 Phyllaries: outer lance-ovate to lance-linear > 2
2 Phyllaries, outer: margins ± entire Brickellia atractyloides var. arguta
2 Phyllaries, outer: margins dentate Brickellia atractyloides var. odontolepis