Balsamorhiza deltoidea
Encyclopedia
Balsamorhiza
deltoidea is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe
of the plant family Asteraceae
known by the common name deltoid balsamroot. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to California
, where it grows in many types of generally mountainous habitat.
ed perennial herb growing erect to a maximum height near 90 centimeters (35.4 inches). The stems are hairy and glandular. The large leaves are up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) long and 20 (7.9) wide, and are roughly triangular in shape, hairy and glandular, and often toothed along the edges.
The inflorescence
bears usually one or sometimes a few large flower heads
, each lined with hairy, pointed phyllaries
up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long. The head has a center of yellowish disc florets and a fringe of pointed yellow ray florets each up to 4 or 5 centimeters (1.6 or 2 inches) long. The fruit is an achene
7 to 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) in length.
Balsamorhiza
Balsamorhiza is a genus of plants in the sunflower family known commonly as balsamroots. These are perennials with fleshy taproots and caudices bearing erect stems and large, basal leaves. Atop the tall stems are showy yellow sunflower-like blooms. Balsamroots are native to western North America...
deltoidea is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe
Heliantheae
Heliantheae is the third largest tribe in the sunflower family . With some 190 genera and nearly 2500 recognized species, only the tribes Senecioneae and Astereae are larger. The name is derived from the genus Helianthus, which is Greek for sun flower. Most genera and species are found in North...
of the plant family Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common name deltoid balsamroot. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in many types of generally mountainous habitat.
Description
Balsamorhiza deltoidea is a taprootTaproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
ed perennial herb growing erect to a maximum height near 90 centimeters (35.4 inches). The stems are hairy and glandular. The large leaves are up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) long and 20 (7.9) wide, and are roughly triangular in shape, hairy and glandular, and often toothed along the edges.
The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
bears usually one or sometimes a few large flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
, each lined with hairy, pointed phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long. The head has a center of yellowish disc florets and a fringe of pointed yellow ray florets each up to 4 or 5 centimeters (1.6 or 2 inches) long. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
7 to 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) in length.