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. sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.

Stems 2–6 dm, ± short-tomentose, minutely glandular
Leaves: basal 20–50 cm, blade widely triangular, entire, acute or obtuse, base cordate and ± hastate, upper surface soft-hairy, lower surface short-tomentose to finely strigose, ± canescent; cauline generally several, linear to oblanceolate
Inflorescence: heads 1–few; outer phyllaries 10–25 mm, 4–9 mm wide, oblong-lanceolate to ovate, obtuse to acute, ± tomentose
Ray flowers: ligules 2.5–4 cm
Disk flowers: corollas 6–8 mm
Fruit 7–9 mm
Ecology: Open forest, scrub
Elevation: 1400–2600 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Sierra Nevada, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Rocky Mtns
Flowering time: May–Jul