| Balsamorhiza macrolepis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Heliantheae |
| Genus: | Balsamorhiza |
| Species: | B. macrolepis |
| Binomial name | |
| Balsamorhiza macrolepis W.M.Sharp |
|
Balsamorhiza macrolepis is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name California balsamroot. It is native to California, Nevada, and Oregon in the western United States, where it grows in dry, open habitat, mostly in mountainous areas.
This is a taprooted perennial herb growing erect 20 to 60 centimeters tall. The large lobed leaves are lance-shaped to oval and the largest, generally toward the base of the plant, may approach 50 centimeters in length. They are bright to dull grayish-green and coated in fine hairs.
The inflorescence bears a single flower head lined with hairy, glandular phyllaries up to 4 centimeters long. The head has a center of yellowish disc florets and a fringe of pointed yellow ray florets each 2 or 3 centimeters long.