Brickellia simplex

Perennials, 40-60 cm (caudices woody). Stems branched, pubes-cent. Leaves opposite or alternate; petioles 3-20 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, deltate to lanceolate, 10-60 × 7-50 mm, bases cordate to truncate, margins crenate-dentate, apices acute, faces sparsely to densely pubescent, gland-dotted. Heads borne singly or in open, paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 20-50 mm, glandular-pubescent. Involucres cylindric to broadly campanulate, 12-14 mm. Phyllaries 40-60 in 5-6 series, greenish, 4-6-striate, unequal, margins narrowly scarious (apices acute to acuminate); outer narrowly lanceolate (glandular-pubescent), inner lanceolate (glabrous or tomentulose). Florets ± 60; corollas pale yellow, often purple-tinged, 9-10 mm. Cypselae 4-5 mm, hispidulous or glabrate; pappi of 32-36 white, barbellate bristles.

Flowering Aug-Oct. Oak woodlands, canyons, dry mountain slopes; 1500-2700 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico.

FNA 2006

Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Subshrub General: Perennial from woody caudex, 40-60 cm tall, stems branched, pubescent. Leaves: Opposite or alternate, on petioles 3-20 mm, blades 3-nerved from bases, hastate to deltate-lanceolate, 1-6 cm long, 0.7-5 cm wide, bases cordate to truncate, margins crenate-dentate, apices acute, faces sparsely to densely pubescent, gland-dotted. Flowers: Heads borne singly or in open, paniculiform arrays, on peduncles 20-50 mm, glandular-pubescent; involucres cylindric to broadly campanulate, 12-14 mm; phyllaries 40-60 in 5-6 series, greenish, 4-6 striate, unequal, margins narrowly scarious, apices acute to acuminate; florets more than 60, corollas pale yellow, often purple-tinged, 9-10 mm. Fruits: Cypselae 4-5 mm, hispidulous or glabrate, pappi of 32-36 white, barbellate bristles. Ecology: Found in oak woodlands, canyons, and on dry mountain slopes from 5,000-9,000 ft (1524-2743 m); flowers August-October. Notes: Distinguished by its almost hastate leaves, with rounded teeth along the margins and not particularly stout stems. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have uses. Etymology: Brickellia is named for Dr. John Brickell (1749-1809), while simplex means simple, undivided, or unbranched. Synonyms: None Editor: SBuckley, 2010