Hulsea algida
Encyclopedia
Hulsea algida is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name Pacific hulsea or Alpine gold. It is native to the western United States from California
to Montana
where it grows in alpine
and subalpine
talus
habitats. This is a hairy, glandular perennial herb producing stout erect stems approaching 40 centimeters in maximum height. The dark green leaves are narrow and covered in white hairs, and the edges are wavy and toothed. Most of the leaves occur in a thick patch at the base of the plant and some grow from the stems. The flower head
is encased in a cup of densely woolly reddish green phyllaries
which open to reveal a daisylike bloom one to three centimeters across. The center of the head is filled with yellow or orange disc florets and the circumference has up to 60 bright yellow or gold ray florets each about a centimeter long with rounded or toothed tips. The fruit is an achene
up to a centimeter long with a pappus
which may be longer.
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 Pacific hulsea or Alpine gold. It is native to the western United States from 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...
to Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
where it grows in alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
and subalpine
Subalpine
The subalpine zone is the biotic zone immediately below tree line around the world. Species that occur in this zone depend on the location of the zone on the Earth, for example, Snow Gum in Australia, or Subalpine Larch, Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir in western North America.Trees in the...
talus
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
habitats. This is a hairy, glandular perennial herb producing stout erect stems approaching 40 centimeters in maximum height. The dark green leaves are narrow and covered in white hairs, and the edges are wavy and toothed. Most of the leaves occur in a thick patch at the base of the plant and some grow from the stems. The flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
is encased in a cup of densely woolly reddish green 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...
which open to reveal a daisylike bloom one to three centimeters across. The center of the head is filled with yellow or orange disc florets and the circumference has up to 60 bright yellow or gold ray florets each about a centimeter long with rounded or toothed tips. 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...
up to a centimeter long with a pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
which may be longer.