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. macrolepis W.M. Sharp

Stems 2–6 dm
Leaves: basal generally 20–50 cm, blade lanceolate to elliptic, pinnately divided into linear to ovate segments, finely strigose, green to silvery canescent; cauline often 2–3 near base
Inflorescence: head 1; outer phyllaries 13–40 mm, generally 5–10 mm wide, ovate-lanceolate, tip wide, flat, obtuse to acute, appressed to spreading, finely strigose, minutely glandular
Ray flowers: ligules 2–3 cm
Disk flowers: corollas 7–10 mm
Fruit 5–8 mm
Ecology: Dry slopes, valleys
Elevation: < 1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: e Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: nw Nevada

Native

var. platylepis (W.M. Sharp) Ferris

Stems 0.5–4 dm, ± densely hairy, becoming ± glabrous
Leaves 10–30 cm; blade ± gray
Inflorescence: outer phyllaries 13–24 mm, 4–8 mm wide, densely strigose-canescent
Fruit 5–7 mm
Ecology: Dry slopes, valleys
Elevation: 1300–1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: eastern Cascade Range, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: nw Nevada