ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.

BALSAMORHIZA

BALSAM-ROOT

Perennial from fleshy taproot; caudices 1–many
Stems erect
Leaves ± basal, few cauline, long-petioled; blade entire to 1–3-pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: heads 1–few, radiate; peduncles long, bracts 0–few; involucre hemispheric to bell-shaped; phyllaries in 2–4 series; receptacle flat; chaff folded around fruits
Ray flowers showy; ligules yellow
Disk flowers many; corollas yellow, tube short, throat cylindric to narrowly bell-shaped; style branches tapered
Fruit oblong, 3–4-angled; pappus 0
Species in genus: ± 12 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: balsam root, from sticky sap of taproot)
Reference: [Weber 1982 Phytologia 50:357–359]
Hybrids common.
Horticultural information: TRY.

Native

B. hirsuta Nutt.

Stems 2–5 dm, densely glandular-puberulent, sparsely long-hairy
Leaves: basal 15–30 cm, blade lanceolate to elliptic, pinnately lobed, further divided into linear-oblong segments 2–3 mm wide, both surfaces green, strigose, glandular-puberulent; cauline generally 2 near base, opposite
Inflorescence: head 1; outer phyllaries 15–22 mm, 4–5 mm wide, ovate-lanceolate, long-acuminate, ciliate, minutely glandular, tips often spreading or reflexed
Ray flowers: ligules 2–4 cm
Disk flowers: corollas 7–8 mm
Fruit 6–7 mm
Ecology: Sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1450–1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to Washington, nw Nevada
Synonyms: B. hookeri (Hook.) Nutt. var. neglecta (W. Sharp) Cronquist