Shrubs, 20–50 cm. Stems densely branched, glandular-puberulent. Leaves opposite or alternate; petioles 0–3 mm; blades 3–4-nerved from bases (veins prominent), deltate, lanceolate, or ovate, 10–50 × 5–25 mm, bases acute to truncate or cordate, margins usually sharply dentate or dentate-serrate, rarely entire, apices acute to acuminate, faces glabrous or strigose and minutely glandular-puberulent. Heads in open, paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 10–70 mm, hispid to hispidulous and stipitate-glandular. Involucres cylindric to broadly campanulate, 9–15 mm. Phyllaries 24–33 in 3–4 series, green, 3–16-striate, subequal or unequal, margins narrowly scarious (apices acute to acuminate); outer (often bright green, 4–16-striate) lance-linear, linear-ovate, or broadly ovate, inner (pale green, 3–4-striate) linear or narrowly lanceolate (often chartaceous, scabrellous, often glandular). Florets 40–90; corollas pale yellow-green or cream, often purple-tinged, 6–8 mm. Cypselae 3–5.5 mm, scabrellous; pappi of 18–25 smooth or barbellulate bristles.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., Utah, nw Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

All three varieties of Brickellia atractyloides often intergrade and are not readily distinguished in some cases.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Brickellia atractyloides var. arguta, Brickellia atractyloides var. atractyloides, Brickellia atractyloides var. odontolepis

Key

1	Phyllaries: outer broadly ovate	Brickellia atractyloides var. atractyloides
1	Phyllaries: outer lance-ovate to lance-linear	> 2
2	Phyllaries, outer: margins ± entire	Brickellia atractyloides var. arguta
2	Phyllaries, outer: margins dentate	Brickellia atractyloides var. odontolepis