Brickellia amplexicaulis

Perennials, 100-200 cm. Stems branched from bases, pubescent and gland-dotted. Leaves oppo-site; petioles 0-1 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases (pinnately-veined distally), lanceolate to oblong, 40-160 × 10-75 mm, bases rounded to cordate (clasping), margins crenate to serrate, apices acute, faces densely to sparsely pubescent and stipitate-glandular. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 7-25 mm, densely stipitate-glandular. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 9-13 mm. Phyllaries 18-24 in 4-5 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 3-8-striate, unequal, margins narrowly scarious (apices acute to acuminate); outer ovate (6-8-striate, sparsely glandular at apices), inner narrowly lanceolate (3-4-striate, glabrous). Florets 13-22; corollas pale yellow or cream, often purple- or red-tinged, 6-8 mm. Cypselae 2.8-4 mm, densely pubescent to hirtellous; pappi of 35-60 white, barbellulate bristles.

Flowering Sep-Dec. Rocky or grassy montane slopes, riparian habitats; 700-1900 m; Ariz., N.Mex.

Brickellia amplexicaulis is known from se Arizona and sw New Mexico.

FNA 2006

Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Subshrub General: Perennial herbs to shushrubs, 1-2 m tall; stems branching from base, pubescent and gland-dotted. Leaves: Opposite, sessile or on short petioles to 1 mm; blades 3-nerved from base, lanceolate to oblong, 4-16 cm long by 1-7 cm wide, bases rounded to clasping, apices acute, margins crenate to serrate, faces densely to sparsely pubescent and stipitate-glandular. Flowers: Flower heads cream-colored, discoid, in arranged in racemose or paniculate arrays, on peduncles 7-25 mm long, these densely stipitate-glandular; involucre (ring of bracts wrapped around the flower head) cylindric to campanulate, 9-13 mm high, the bracts (phyllaries) 18-24 in 4-5 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 3-8 striate, unequal, margins narrowly scarious, with acute apices; outer phyllaries ovate, inner phyllaries narrowly lanceolate; florets 13-22, all discs, the corollas pale yellow or cream, often purple or red-tinged, 6-8 mm. Fruits: Achenes 3-4 mm, densely pubescent to hirtellous, topped with a pappus of 35-60 white, barbellate bristles. Ecology: Found on rock or grassy montane slopes, or often in riparian habitats from 3,000-5,000 ft (914-1524 m); flowers September-December. Distribution: se AZ, sw NM, south to n MEX. Notes: Brickellia is a genus of shrubs and perennial herbs with all disc flowers, these usually white to cream colored; flower heads wrapped in several rows of bracts (phyllaries), the outer rows shorter than the inner rows; and 10-nerved seeds topped with white tufts of bristles. B. amplexicaulis can be identified by its opposite, sessile leaves with clasping leaf bases and toothed edges; glandular-pubescent herbage; and densely hairy seeds. Appears quite similar to B. betonicifolia but that species is generally hairier; to distinguish between the two, use your hand lens and look at the peduncles (flower stalks), which are hairy on B. betonicifolia and covered with gland-tipped hairs on B. amplexicaulis. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genus have uses. Etymology: Brickellia is named for Dr. John Brickell (1749-1809), a botanist and physician in Georgia; amplexicaulis refers to the leaf base clasping the stem. Synonyms: None Editor: SBuckley 2010, AHazelton 2015