Wildflowers and Other Herbaceous Plants of Utah Rangelands

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WILDFLOWERS & OTHER HERBACEOUS PLANTS OF UTAH RANGELANDS A FIELD GUIDE

123

Compiled by: Roger Banner Mindy Pratt James Bowns Chad Reid


Credits First Edition, First Printing, October 2013 168 plants included in this edition.

Cover Photos: Top-left: Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University Top-right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Bottom-left: Sue Smith @ http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants Bottom-right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Authors: Roger Banner, Mindy Pratt, Chad Reid, James Bowns

Edited by: Donna Falkenborg and Julene Reese, USU Extension Editors Produced by: Utah State University Extension

Printed by: Utah State University Publication, Design and Production

This publication is a Field Guide only; to be used for quick identification of common wildflowers and other herbaceous plants of Utah. It is not a complete reference. Additional information on individual plants may be obtained by consulting references cited or other experts. Publication number: HG 516

ISBN number: 978-0-9888891-1-8

In memory of Jim Bowns, our friend, colleague, teacher, and inspiration.


Table of Contents Introduction & Plant Diagrams APIACEAE (Parsley Family) • Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) • Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) • Springparsley (Cymopterus spp.) • Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) • Fernleaf Licorice-root (Ligusticum filicinum) • Biscuitroots (Lomatium spp.) • Sweetcicely (Osmorhiza berteroi) • Western Sweetroot (Osmorhiza occidentalis) APOCYNACEAE (Dogbane Family) • Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

1

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

ASCLEPIADACEAE (Milkweed Family) • Pallid Milkweed 13 (Asclepias cryptoceras) • Showy Milkweed 14 (Asclepias speciosa) • Whorled Milkweed 15 (Asclepias subverticillata) ASTERACEAE (Sunflower Family) • Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) • Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens.) • Mountain Dandelion (Agoseris spp.) • Western Ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) • Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.) • Burdock (Arctium minus) • Heartleaf Arnica (Arnica cordifolia) • Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

• Louisiana Sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana) • Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) • Balsamroots (Balsamorhiza spp.) • Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) • Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) • Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) • Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos) • Squarrose Knapweed (Centaurea virgata) • Rush Skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) • Chicory (Cichorium intybus) • Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) • Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) • Tapertip Hawksbeard (Crepis acuminata) • Nakedstem Sunray (Enceliopsis nudicaulis) • Shaggy Fleabane (Erigeron pumilus) • Showy Fleabane Daisy (Erigeron speciosus) • Utah Daisy (Erigeron utahensis) • Blanketflower (Gaillarida spp.) • Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) • Oneflower Sunflower (Helianthella unifolia) • Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) • Showy Goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora, var. multiflora)

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45


• Orange Sneezeweed (Hymenoxys hoopesii) • Colorado Rubberweed (Hymenoxys richardsonii) • Prickly Lettuce (Lacutca serriola) • Tansyleaf Aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia) • Tarweed (Madia glomerata) • Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium) • Copperweed (Oxytenia acerosa) • Lobeleaf Groundsel (Packera multilobata) • Greenstem Paperflower (Psilostrophe sparsiflora) • Western Coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis) • Ragwort (Senecio spp.) • Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) • Western Aster (Symphyotrichum ascendens) • Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) • Stemless Four-nerve Daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis) • Navajo Tea (Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum) • Silvery Townsendia (Townsendia incana) • Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius) • Wyethia (Wyethia spp., Scabrethia spp.) • Cisco Woodyaster (Xylorhiza venusta) BORAGINACEAE (Borage Family) • Cryptanth (Crypthantha spp.) • Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officiale)

46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65

66 67

• Western Stoneseed (Lithospermum ruderale) • Bluebells (Mertensia spp.) BRASSICACEAE (Mustard Family) • Whitetop (Cardaria draba) • Sanddune Wallfower (Erysimum capitatum) • Dyer’s Woad (Isatis tinctoria) • Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) • Mountain Pepperweed (Lepidium montanum) • Prince’s Plume (Stanleya pinnata) • Annual Blue Mustards (Chorospora, Malcolmia) • Annual Yellow Mustards (Descurainia, Sisymbrium) CAMPANULACEAE (Bellflower Family) • American Bellflower (Campanula rotundifolia) CAPPARACEAE (Caper Family) • Beeplant (Cleome spp.) • Palmer’s Cleomella (Cleomella palmeriana) CARYOPHYLLACEAE (Pink Family) • James’ Chickweed (Pseudostellaria jamesiana) CHENOPODIACEAE (Goosefoot Family) • Green Molly (Bassia americana) • Forage Kochia (Bassia prostrata) • Annual Kochia (Bassia scoparia) • Lambsquarter (Chenopodium album) • Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) • Annual Samphire (Salicornea rubra) • Utah Samphire (Salicornia utahensis)

68 69

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77

78

79 80

81

82 83 84 85 86 87 88


• Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus)

CONVOLVULACEAE (Morning Glory Family) • Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

89

90

CUCURBITACEAE (Gourd Family) • Coyote Gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima)

91

DIPSACACEAE (Teasel Family) • Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

92

• American Vetch (Vicia americana) GENTIANACEAE (Gentian Family) • Elkweed (Frasera speciosa) GERANIACEAE (Geranium Family) • Redstem Stork’s Bill (Erodium cicutarium) • Geranium (Geranium spp.)

109

110

111 112

EQUISETACEAE (Horsetail Family) • Horsetail 93 (Equisetum hyemale)

HYDROPHYLLACEAE (Waterleaf Family) • Ballhead Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum) • Crenulate Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata)

EUPHORBIACEAE (Spurge Family) • Leafy Spurge 94 (Euphorbia esula)

IRIDACEAE (Iris Family) • Wild Iris (Iris missouriensis)

115

FABACEAE (Pea Family) • Locoweed or Milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) • Prairie Clover (Dalea spp.) • American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) • Utah Sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) • Creeping Rushpea (Hoffmannseggia repens) • Sweetpea (Lathyrus spp.) • Birdsfoot Treefoil (Lotus corniculatus) • Utah Treefoil (Lotus utahensis) • Lupine (Lupinus spp.) • Sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) • Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) • Rush Scurfpea (Psoralidium junceum) • Fringeleaf Necklacepod (Sophora stenophylla) • Mountain Goldenbanner (Thermopsis montana)

LAMIACEAE (Mint Family) • Horsemint (Agastache urticifolia)

116

95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108

LILIACEAE (Lily Family) • Tapertip Onion (Allium acuminatum) • Funnel Lily (Androstephium breviflorum) • Sego Lily and Mariposa Lillies (Calochortus spp) • Blue Camas (Camassia quamash) • Yellow Avalanche-lily (Erythronium grandiflorum) • False Solomon-seal (Maianthemum spp.) • False Hellebore (Veratrum californicum) • Foothill Death Camas (Zigadenus paniculatus) LINACEAE (Flax Family) • Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)

113 114

117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124

125


LYTHRACEAE (Loosestrife Family) POLYPODIACEAE • Purple Loosestrife 126 (Common Fern Family) (Lythrum salicaria) • Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) MALVACEAE (Mallow Family) • Oregon Checkermallow 127 RANUNCULACEAE (Sidalcea oregano) (Buttercup Family) • Globemallow • Columbian Monkshood 128 (Sphaeralcea spp) (Aconitum columbianum) • Red Baneberry NYCTAGINACEAE (Actaea rubra) (Four o’clock Family) • Colorado Columbine • Fragrant Sand Verbena (Aquilegia caerulea) 129 (Abronia fragrans) • White Marsh Marigold • Colorado Four-o’clock (Caltha leptosepala) 130 (Mirabilis multiflora) • Bur Buttercup (Ceratocephala testiculata) ONAGRACEAE • Larkspurs (Evening Primrose Family) (Delphinum spp.) • Eastwood’s Camissonia • Sagebrush Buttercup 131 (Camissoina eastwoodiae) (Ranunculus glaberrimus) • Fireweed • Utah Buttercup 132 (Chamerion angustifolium) (Ranunculus jovis) • Evening Primrose • Fendler’s Meadowrue 133 (Oenothera spp.) (Thalictrum fendleri) PAPAVERACEAE (Poppy Family) ROSACEAE (Rose Family) • Prickly-Poppy • Cinquefoil 134 (Argemone munita ssp. (Potentilla spp.) rotundata) • Small Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) PLANTAGINACEAE (Plantain Family) RUBIACEAE • Plantain 135 (Coffee or Madder Family) (Plantago spp.) • Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) POLEMONIACEAE • Scarlett Gilia 136 SCROPHULARIACEAE (Ipomopsis aggregata) (Snapdragon Family) • Phlox • Indian Paintbrush 137 (Phlox spp.) (Castilleja spp.) • Leafy Jacobs-Ladder • Dalmation Toadflax 138 (Polemonium (Lanaria dalmatica ssp. foliosissimum) dalmatica) • Yellow Toadflax/Butter and Eggs POLYGONACEAE (Lanaria vulgaris) • Bottlestopper • Seep Monkeyflower 139 (Eriogonum inflatum) (Mimulus guttatus) • Sulfur Buckwheat • Elephanthead 140 (Eriogonum umbellatum) (Pedicularis groenlandica) • American Bistort 141 • Penstemon (Polygonum bistortoides) (Penstemon spp.) • Curly Dock 142 • Hare Figwort (Rumex crispus) (Scrophularia lanceolata)

143

144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152

153 154

155

156 157 158 159 160 161 162


• Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) SOLANACEAE (Nightshade Family) • Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) • Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) • Coyote Tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata) • Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) • Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum)

163

164 165 166 167 168

URTICACEAE (Nettle Family) • Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

169

VIOLACEAE (Violet Family) • Nuttal Violet (Vicia nuttallii)

170

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE (Caltrop Family) • Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)

171

Index References Cited Notes

172 175 179


Introduction

This guide is meant to serve as a help identifying many of the wildflowers and other herbaceous species common to the rangelands, forests, and farmlands of Utah. It is not an exhaustive guide to the plants contained herein, nor is it a comprehensive summary of all the wildflowers and herbaceous species of Utah.

Using This Guide: This guide is organized by plant family first, and then alphabetically by scientific name. This will enable users of the guide to compare closely related species near to each other, making it easier to distinguish a particular species. There are colored tabs within the guide to distinguish the families and help with quicker navigation of the guide. There is also a comprehensive index at the end of the book to further aid users in locating species. Each page provides the following information: Photo Page: Photos of species and specific traits to help with identification. Common Name: The most frequently used common name of the species.

Scientific Name: The most recent scientific name, according to the PLANTS database (plants.usda.gov). Symbol: The NRCS plant symbol (from PLANTS database)

Description: A description of the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of the plant to aid in identification.

Distribution and Habitat: A description of the environment in which the plant occurs General Information: An explanation of any intrinsic values a plant has, and may include values for livestock, wildlife, erosion control, medicinal purposes, etc. Species Referenced: When multiple species are referenced on a page, a list of each of those species, with scientific name, common name, and NRCS symbol is given.


Terms for Plant Structure Stems and Leaves Terminal bud

Axillary bud

Internode Veins Blade Midrib Leaf Petiole (leaf stalk) Stipules (appendages at base of leaf)

Node Stem Branch

Sessile leaves (no petiole; blade attached to stem) Stolon

Crown Rhizome

Corm

Bulb

Tuber

Fibrous Root System

Roots Diagrams: Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming, www.extension.org

Taproot

1

Brady Hackmeister, USU Extension Graphic Designer


Leaf Arrangement

OPPOSITE WHORLED

ALTERNATE

BASAL ROSETTE

Leaf Structure SIMPLE

PALMATE COMPOUND

PINATE COMPOUND

BIPINNATE TRIFOLIATE

Diagrams: Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming, www.extension.org Brady Hackmeister, USU Extension Graphic Designer


Leaf Shapes

Linear

Lanceolate

Ovate

Hastate

Oblanceolate

Oblong

Oval or Elliptical

Obovate

Cordate or Heart-shaped

Sagitate

Lobed

Pinnate

Divided or Dissected

Leaf Margins Coarsely Serrate

Undulate

Entire

Finely Serrate

Crenate

Doubly Serrate

Lobed

Diagrams: Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming, www.extension.org Brady Hackmeister, USU Extension Graphic Designer

2


Inflorescence Types

SOLITARY

SPIKE

RACEME

SIMPLE UMBEL COMPOUND UMBEL

PANICLE

CORYMB

HEAD or CAPITULUM or COMPOSITE

Diagrams: Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming, www.extension.org Brady Hackmeister, USU Extension Graphic Designer


Parts of a Flower

Above flower diagram: Mariana Ruiz, www.wikipedia.org

Parts of a Composite Flower

Diagrams: Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming, www.extension.org Brady Hackmeister, USU Extension Graphic Designer Danielle Allen, USU Extension Graphic Designer 3


Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

Above and right: Karen A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Left: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Below: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: Š 2010 Louis-M. Landry

Above: Karen A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org


Water Hemlock Cicuta maculata L.

Description: Water Hemlock is a native, perennial herb in the Parsley Family (Apiaceae). It is 3’-7’ tall or taller, with clusters of fibrous roots surmounted by a thickened crown positioned over them. At the base of the stem is a horizontally chambered rootstalk characteristic of this species. Stems may be 2”-6” in diameter or more. Leaves are arranged on opposite sides of the stems (pinnate) or in threes (ternate-pinnate) with 4-7 opposite pair of lateral primary leaflets, the lower ones pinnate, and the upper ones once pinnate and without stalks (sessile). Leaves are narrowly lance-shaped or linear and finely to coarsely toothed along the margins. Side veins in the leaves end at the indented parts of the leaf margins. Water hemlock flower heads are highly condensed racemes with white petaled flowers on pedicels arising from a more or less common point like the struts of an umbrella (umbels). Flowering occurs June through August and seeds are spherical with low ribs. Distribution and Habitat: Water Hemlock occurs along streambanks, ditches, canals, margins of ponds and lakes, in wet meadows and in marshes at 4,500’-7,600’ and has been documented in all Utah counties except Box Elder, Davis Carbon, Emery, Grand, Iron, and Washington. It is widespread in North America. General Information: Water Hemlock is one of the most poisonous plants in Utah. It is highly poisonous to humans and livestock due to a yellow-orange compound called cicutoxin, which is one of the most toxic naturally occurring plant toxins known. This toxin is concentrated in the Water Hemlock chambered root crown, but all parts of the plant are highly toxic.

4

APIACEAE

CIMA2


Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Above and right: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left and above: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org Above & below: Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org

Right: Pedro Tenorio-Lezama, Bugwood.org

Left: © 2011 Louis-M. Landry


Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum L.

Description: Poison Hemlock is an introduced, biennial herb in the Parsley Family (Apiaceae). It is erect, 2’-10’ tall, with smooth purple-spotted, freely branching, leafy, hollow stems arising from stout, carrot-shaped taproots. Leaves are shiny green, smooth, and two or three times dissected (compounded), giving them a lacy appearance much like parsley. Lower leaves are on long stalks that clasp the stem and upper leaves have short stalks. Poison Hemlock foliage and roots have a strong musty odor (likened to mouse urine). The flower heads are several to numerous compound umbels composed of highly condensed racemes with white petaled flowers on pedicels arising from a more or less common point like the struts of an umbrella. Flowering occurs June through August and seeds are small <⅛” long with prominently ridged ribs. Distribution and Habitat: Poison Hemlock was introduced from Eurasia and occurs along roads, fences, streambanks, ditches, canals, in wet meadows, and in other moist areas at 4,200’-7,000’ and has been documented in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Juab, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Washington, and Weber counties. It is widespread in North America. General Information: Poison Hemlock is highly poisonous to a wide variety of animals including birds, wildlife, cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, goats, and humans. It contains at least eight piperidine alkaloids. The two predominant toxic alkaloids are Coniine (in the mature plant and seeds), and g-Coniceine (in young growing plants). Prior to the development of the seed heads, the leaves and stems are the most toxic parts of the plant. The toxic alkaloids in Poison Hemlock cause paralysis of respiratory muscles. There is no specific treatment for hemlock poisoning. It is the classical “poison hemlock” of Socrates’ time. 5

APIACEAE

COMA2


Left: Purple Springparsley (C. purpureus), Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Below: Ibapah Springparsley (C. ibapensis), © 2008 Trent M. Draper

Above: Long-stalk Springparsley (C. longipes), © 2009 Trent M. Draper

Springparsley (Cymopterus spp.)

Above and below: Widewing Springparsley (C. purpurascens). Above: © 2004 Steve Matson. Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left: Globe Springparsley (C. globosus), © 2006 James M. Andre


Springparsley

Cymopterus spp. Raf. Description: The Springparsleys are native, perennial plants in the Parsley Family (Apiaceae). There are 23 identified species or varieties in Utah. Springparsleys are plants without stems or nearly so, with foliage that may be smooth or rough to the touch, and that grow from slender or enlarged tuber-like taproots and branching woody bases. Leaves may all be basal (sometimes elevated on aerial false scapes) or basal plus 1 to few cauline leaves on the lower half of the stems. Leaves are ternate (divided into 3 leaflets), to pinnate or ternate-pinnately compound, or rarely simple and ternately cleft. Springparsleys may have solitary or several umbels that are open or reduced to globe-shaped heads. Flower petals are white, yellow, or purple. Fruits are egg-shaped to oblong, somewhat flat dorsally. The side ribs and usually 1 or more of the dorsal ribs are prominently winged. Plants flower from March to June. Distribution and Habitat: Springparsleys occurs in desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, limber pine, to white fir communities at 3,500’-9,000.’ While no species of Springparsley occurs in all Utah counties, members of the group as a whole are documented to occur in all Utah counties. General Information: Indians used the taproots and leaves of Springparsley as a reliable spring food. Species Referenced: C. globosus (S. Watson) S. Watson - Globe Springparsley CYGL2 C. ibapensis M.E. Jones - Ibapah Springparsley CYIB C.longpipes S. Watson - Longstalk Springparsley CYLO C. purpurascens (A. Gray) M.E. Jones - Widewing Springparsley CYPU C. purpureus S. Watson - Purple Springparsley CYPU2

6

APIACEAE

CYMOP


Right: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) Above and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above and below: © 2006 Louis-M. Landry

Left: © 2006 Louis-M. Landry


Cow Parsnip

Heracleum maximum Michaux Description: Cow Parsnip is a perennial, native, herbaceous member of the Carrot or Parsley Family (Apiaceae). It has a stout, single stem, 2½’->8’ tall or more, that grows from a taproot or cluster of fibrous roots. It is smooth to densely hairy or wooly, especially on the nodes. Leaves are divided into 3 leaflets below and are simple near the top. Leaf stalks are about 10” long and lacking on the upper leaves with the leaflets and leaf mid-rib arising directly from a flattened sheath. Leaf blades are about 16” long. Leaflets are 3”-14” long or longer and egg-shaped or round, usually with 3 major lobes that are again lobed and coarsely toothed. Flower stalks are 2”-9” long and flower clusters are broad, flat-topped compound umbels. The flower petals are white. The egg-shaped seeds are ⅓”-½” long and ¼”-⅓” wide. Distribution and Habitat: Cow Parsnip grows throughout the United States and Canada. It is a facultative wetland species; i.e., it grows best in moist, shaded areas, but can also be found in open woodlands and clearings. It occurs in a wide variety of forested habitat types, as well as grasslands, shrublands, meadows, and alpine zones. In the Intermountain West, it is a common understory species in spruce-fir habitat types, as well as in aspen. It is commonly found growing in snow-maintained open areas such as avalanche chutes. In Utah, it is found at 5,200’-9,000’ and has been reported in all Utah counties except Beaver, Daggett, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Washington, and Wayne. General Information: Cow Parsnip is a valuable forage species for livestock, deer, elk, moose, and bear. Indigenous peoples of Alaska, British Columbia, the Great Plains, and Arizona used Cow Parsnip for food. In Arizona, the Apache ate the young leaves and stems and used the roots to treat epilepsy. Furanocoumarins in Cow Parsnip may cause skin irritations or dermatitis in persons with sensitive skin that comes in contact with the foliage. 7

APIACEAE

HEMA80


Fernleaf Licorice-root (Ligusticum filicinum)

All Photos: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Fernleaf Licorice-root Ligusticum filicinum S. Watson

Description: Fernleaf Licorice-root is a native, aromatic, smooth surfaced, perennial herb in the Parsley or Carrot Family (Apiaceae). Plants are 24”-50” tall or taller, from a heavy taproot with a simple or branched crown which is clothed with fibrous, persistent leaf stalk bases. Leaves are mostly basal and 1-3 cauline (on the main stem), ternate-pinnately 3 times dissected, with 5-6 pair of lateral primary leaflets. Basal leaves have stalks 3”-12” long or more, blades are 5”-12” long, and eggshaped. The lowest pair of primary leaflets is ½-¾ as long as the leaf blade and on leaflet stalks 1”-4” long. The end leaflet segment is up to almost ¾” long, linear, narrowly elliptic or narrowly deltoid, entire, and bifid or trifid. The inflorescence stalk is up to almost 6¾” long. The terminal umbel has 1-3 smaller, secondary umbels beneath it. The lateral secondary umbels are alternate and originate in the leaf-axils. The upper secondary umbels are not from leaf-axils and are opposite or in whorls of 3. There are 7-27 umbel branches that are 1”-2½” long. There are 1-3 separate, usually deciduous, secondary whorls of bracts. Individual flower stalks are up to ½” long. Petals are white and stamens are whitish. Distribution and Habitat: Fernleaf Licorice-root occurs in tall forb, aspen, sagebrush-grass, forb-grass, Douglas fir, and spruce-fir communities at 6,300’-10,900’ and has been documented in Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Juab, Morgan, Sanpete, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties. It also occurs in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. General Information: The green stems and roots of Fernleaf Licorice-root are sweet and nutritious and may be eaten raw or cooked.

8

APIACEAE

LIFI


Giant Biscuitroot

Below: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

(Lomatium dissectum) Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Stinking Lomatium (Lomatium graveolens)

Above, right, and below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Foothill Biscuitroot

(Lomatium grayi)

Far right and center right: Š 2008 Trent M. Draper


Biscuitroot

Description: Biscuitroots are perennial, native, herbaceous plants that are members of the Parsley Family (Apiaceae). Giant Biscuitroot may be over 4’ tall while Foothill and Stinking Lomatium are around 16” or 20” tall respectively. Aside from size and the fact that Stinking Lomatium is strongly aromatic, Biscuitroots are similar in appearance. All have fernlike compound leaves with clasping petioles and numerous small white to yellowish flowers in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Distribution and Habitat: Giant Biscuitroot occurs in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, oak-maple, aspen-fir, and riparian communities at 4,160’-8,600’ in all Utah counties except Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Kane, and Wayne. Foothill Biscuitroot is found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir communities at 4,350’ - 8,900’ in all Utah counties except Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Wasatch, Washington, and Wayne. Stinking Lomatium occurs mostly on shallow limestone, in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, Douglas fir, limber pine and spruce-fir communities at 6,000’ - 10,500’ in Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. General Information: Giant Biscuitroot is a preferred plant for grazers. Its root was used as food by many Native American tribes. It was also used in treating chest and skin problems. Foothill Biscuitroot is not preferred forage but once the root is cooked, it can be used for food much like Giant Biscuitroot. Stinking Lomatium is generally avoided by grazers. Species Referenced: L. dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance – Giant Biscuitroot LODI L. graveolens (S. Watson) Dorn & R.L. Hartm. – Stinking Lomatium LOGR6 L. grayi (Coult. & Rose) Coult. & Rose - Foothills Biscuitroot LOGR 9

APIACEAE

LOMAT

Lomatium spp. Raf.


Below: © 2006 Steve Matson

Left and below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Sweetcicely (Osmorhiza berteroi)

Right: © 2003 Steve Matson

Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: © 2006 Steve Matson

Right: © 2006 Steve Matson


Sweetcicely

Osmorhiza berteroi DC Description: Sweetcicely, also known as Chilean Sweetroot or Mountain Sweet-cicely, is a native, perennial herb in the Parsley Family (Apiaceae). Stems grow from taproots, are often solitary, 7”-30” tall, and without persistent withered leaf bases. The herbage is not strongly aromatic. Plants have basal leaves and 2-3 cauline leaves, twice divided in 3’s, usually with 9 distinct leaflets. Basal leaf stalks are 1⅛”-6⅓” long and stem leaves are short stalked or sessile. Leaf blades are 2”-6” long with the lateral, primary leaflets nearly as long as the central one. Leaflet stalks are ¾”-2⅛” or more long. Leaflet blades are ⅓”-1⅝” long, elliptic to egg-shaped, lobed to cleft and toothed, with a marginal fringe of hairs, and often hairy on and scattered between the nerves on the underneath surface. Inflorescence stalks are 2”-13⅓” long and support 1-5 umbels. The umbels have 3-7 rays that are 1”-3½” long, curved upward or spreading-bent upward, and smooth to hairy with small, coarse hairs. Individual flower stalks are up to ⅞” long and curved upward. Flowers are greenish white and small. The fruits including tails are ⅝”-1” long, linear club-shaped, bristly with firm stiff hairs, and with beaks that are concavely pointed. Distribution and Habitat: Sweetcicely is found in mountain brush, aspen, Douglas fir, white fir, narrowleaf cottonwood, and riparian communities at 4,100’-8,800’ and has been documented to occur in all Utah counties except Carbon, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Piute, San Juan, and Wayne. General Information: The bristly hairs of Sweetcicely fruits catch on the fur or clothing of passersby and are carried to other areas. The sharp-pointed fruits can cause considerable discomfort until the source of the irritation is removed.

10

APIACEAE

OSBE


© 2006 Steve Matson Below and right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Above: © 2006 Steve Matson

© 2003 Steve Matson

Western Sweetroot (Osmorhiza occidentalis)

Above: © 2008 Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com


Western Sweetroot

Osmorhiza occidentalis (Nutt. Ex Torr. & A. Gray) Torr. Description: Western Sweetroot, also called Western Sweetanice, is a native, perennial, strongly aromatic herbaceous plant in the Parsley Family (Apiaceae). Plants are 24”-51” tall, grow from taproots, and have few or no persistent leaf bases. The leaves are twice pinnate or the upper stem leaves ternate pinnately compound with 3-4 pairs of opposite lateral primary leaflets. The stalks of lower leaves are from 1½”-11¾” long or longer and the stalks of upper leaves are small. The lower leaf blades are up to 9⅞” long or longer and the upper blades are much smaller with the lowest pair of primary leaflets usually once again pinnate and the end leaflets up to 3½” long and ⅝” wide, lance-shaped to lanceelliptic or egg-shaped and coarsely toothed or some often lobed. The inflorescence stalks are 2⅓”-7⅞” long with 3-5 umbels each composed of 7-13 rays that are ¾”-2⅝” long. Flower stalks are up to ¼” long or more and flowers are inconspicuous with greenish white or greenish yellow petals. Fruits are ⅝”-¾” or more long and ⅛” wide, linear, and smooth. Distribution and Habitat: Western Sweetroot is often a component of tall forb, aspen, oak-maple, Spruce-fir, riparian, and infrequently, sagebrush communities at 5,800’10,400’ and has been collected in Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Grand, Iron, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. It also is found in British Columbia and Alberta south to California and Colorado. General Information: Western Sweetroot has a sweet licorice or anise flavor and can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a flavoring. The dried seeds are also used as a flavoring. The unripe seed, when still fleshy, can be nibbled raw. It is readily grazed by sheep. 11

APIACEAE

OSOC


Left: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left: © 2004 Steve Matson

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

© 2004 George W. Hartwell

Top right, above, and right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Spreading Dogbane

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. Description: Spreading Dogbane is a native, perennial herbaceous plant in the Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae). Stems, which are often from spreading rhizomes, are erect or ascending, 8”-20” tall, smooth, often reddish, and forked (dichotomously branched) into equal parts. Stems contain a white, milky sap. Leaves are borne on stalks (petiolate), are drooping, egg-shaped to oblong lance-shaped, and 1”-4” long. They are smooth to sparsely hairy above and sparsely hairy to densely hairy with short soft hairs below. Flowers are borne at stem tips and leaf axils in fewflowered, showy clusters (cymes). White to pink flower petals (the corolla) are joined to be bell-shaped or tubular and are small. The sepals at the base of the tube- or bell-shaped corolla are egg-shaped to lance-shaped and only about ⅓ the length of the corolla. Flowering occurs from June to September. Erect or drooping fruits (follicles) are dry and split open on one side at maturity. Distribution and Habitat: Spreading Dogbane is found in oak, maple, aspen, sagebrush, ponderosa pine, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 4,900’11,000’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, and Weber counties as well as across Canada and the continental U.S. with the exceptions of Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina. General Information: Dogbanes contain toxins, a resin, apocynin, and 2 know glycosides, cymarin and apocynein. Poisoning is rare since livestock do not eat the plants readily. There is a great deal of variation in size of plants and plant parts.

12

APOCYNACEAE

APAN2


Below: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Pallid Milkweed (Asclepias cryptoceras)

Top left, above, & below: © 2010 Steve Matson

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above and right: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org


Pallid Milkweed

Asclepias cryptoceras S. Watson Description: Pallid Milkweed is an herbaceous, perennial herb in the Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae). Stems recline on the ground with tips directed upward, are clustered, stout, somewhat flattened, simple, smooth, and 4”-12” long. Leaves are 1½”-3½” long and almost as broad, opposite, with short petioles or almost sessile, broadly oval or almost circular in outline and ending abruptly in a small slender point, covered with a whitish to bluish waxy coating, and are smooth. The flowers grow in an umbrella-shaped cluster. The individual flower stalks are up to 2¾” long. Flowers are large with sepals narrowly lance-shaped and about ¼” long and smooth. The group of petals are bent backward disk-shaped, greenish yellow, with the lobes ⅜”-⅝” long. The anthers are fused to the stigmatic region and appear like reddish purple bagshaped hoods on the stigma. The fruit is a broad, smooth follicle, or pod, with a single carpel that opens along only one side to disseminate the seeds. Flowering occurs from April to June. Distribution and Habitat: Pallid Milkweed is found in blackbrush, saltbush, sagebrush, grassland, and pinyon-juniper communities at 3,700’-6,600’ and has been reported to occur in Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Juab, Kane, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Uintah, and Wayne counties. It also occurs from Washington, Oregon, and California to Wyoming and Colorado. General Information: Pallid Milkweed specimens described by Welsh were collected by S. Watson of the Fremont Expedition on June 8-9, 1844, along the Green River in Brown’s Park, in Moffatt County, Colorado, and on June 10, 1844, near the Little Snake River. In Capitol Reef National Park it is commonly associated with the Moenkopi, Entrada, or Chinle formations. Asclepias species are known to contain cardiac glycosides that are highly toxic in small doses. Milkweeds are recognized to cause poisoning in livestock. 13

ASCLEPIADACEAE

ASCR


Right: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

© 2008 Steve Matson

Below: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Above: © 2008 Steve Matson

Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

© Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Left: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa Torr.

Description: Showy Milkweed is a native, perennial plant in the Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae). It grows from a thickened rootstock and bears very stout, unbranched stems 24”-40” tall. The stems are usually densely covered with short, matted, soft, white, wooly hairs. Leaves are 2”-9” long, 1”-5” wide, opposite, on short stalks, and broadly egg-shaped to egg-shaped-lance-shaped. Leaf blades are blunt at the tip, rounded to heart-shaped (cleft) at the base, densely covered with soft, matted, white, wooly hairs beneath and nearly smooth and hairless above. The inflorescences are umbels borne on the sides of the stem at several of the upper nodes. Inflorescence stalks (peduncles) are stout and up to 4” long. The petals (corolla) are purplish rose colored and the fused anthers and stigma region are pale rose or pinkish cream in color. Pink hoods are located above the corolla (petals). Reddish-brown flat seeds are borne in narrow pods 3”-5” long. Each seed has a tuft of attached hairs. Flowering occurs from June through July. Distribution and Habitat: Showy Milkweed is found in fields and pastures, along roadsides, in riparian areas, and in moist sites at elevations from 2,700’-8,400’ in all Utah counties. It is found from Manitoba to Texas and from Michigan to the Pacific Coast of the U.S. General Information: All parts of Showy Milkweed exude a sticky, white latex or sap. The plant has been used extensively by people for fiber, food, and medicine. It is an important plant for insects, especially the Monarch butterfly. It is the only plant on which Monarchs will lay their eggs. Showy Milkweed contains various toxic cardenolides (cardiac glycosides) and is considered to be poisonous to cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and domestic fowl.

14

ASCLEPIADACEAE

ASSP


Below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Below: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias subverticillata) Above: © Patrick Alexander @ USDANRCS PLANTS Database Left & below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Left: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Whorled Milkweed

Asclepias subverticillata (A. Gray) Vail Description: Whorled Milkweed, also called Western Whorled Milkweed or Horsetail Milkweed, is a native, herbaceous, perennial plant in the Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae). It grows from stout, woody rootstocks. It has underground stems up to almost 5” long and above ground stems from 6”-28” tall which are mostly with sterile, dwarf branchlets. The stems are occasionally simple and smooth or with fine, short, hairy lines from the nodes. Leaves are ¾”-5” or more long, narrow, whorled or opposite, linear, and smooth to bearing minute, long, soft, straight hairs. The inflorescences are umbels borne from the axils of the upper nodes. Inflorescence stalks (peduncles) are slender and up to 2⅓” long. Flowers have 5 sepals, 5 fused petals, and a corona of 5 hood-like forms that look like an extra set of petals. The petals (corolla) are bent backwards, disc-shaped, and white or rarely with a greenish-purple tinge. The corona surrounds the structure formed by the stamens fused with the ovary (gynostegium) and gradually arches over the anther heads. The fruits are dry, dehiscent pods (follicles) up to 3½” long, smooth or nearly so, and borne on erect stalks. Flowering occurs in summer. Distribution and Habitat: Whorled Milkweed is found along roadsides and other disturbed areas in creosote bush, blackbrush, saltbush, sagebrush, rabbitbrush, pinyonjuniper, and mountain brush communities at 2,700’-7,200.’ It has been collected in Beaver, Box Elder, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Millard, San Juan, Sanpete, and Washington counties. General Information: All parts of Whorled Milkweed exude a sticky, white latex or sap. The plant has been reported to be very toxic to animals consuming it, requiring intake of only 0.2% of animal body weight of green material to be lethal. It contains various toxic cardenolides (cardiac glycosides) and is considered to be poisonous to cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and domestic fowl. 15

ASCLEPIADACEAE

ARCO9


Right: © 2004 George W. Hartwell

Above: © 2006 Steve Matson

Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Above and right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: Forest & Kim Starr, USGS, Bugwood.org Above: © 2005 Louis-M. Landry


Western Yarrow Achillea millefolium L.

ACMI2

Distribution and Habitat: Western Yarrow is found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, cottonwood, Rocky Mountain juniper, rabbitbrush, ponderosa pine, mountain brush, aspen, Douglas fir, spruce-fir, and alpine tundra communities at 3,500’12,300’ and is found in all of Utah. It is circumboreal and widespread in North America. General Information: Western Yarrow is drought tolerant and considered weedy in some circumstances. It is aromatic and not a particularly good forage plant although it is used to some degree by grazers. Native Americans made medicinal use of it in a variety of ways. A decoction of leaves and flowers was used as eyewash. Stems, leaves, and roots were chewed for toothache or boiled for tea used as a cold remedy.

16

ASTERACEAE

Description: Western Yarrow, also called Common Yarrow, is a native, cool season, perennial herbaceous plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants are rhizomatous with stems arising singly or in a loose cluster. Stems are erect, 2”-39” tall, covered with long, soft, shaggy, and unmatted hairs, or with short, matted or tangled, soft, wooly hairs. Leaves are approximately 1”-10¼” long, becoming smaller upward on the stems, and pinnately divided once to 3-times deeply divided (dissected) into many narrow segments. Flower heads are numerous and borne in flat-topped, paniculate inflorescences in which the terminal flowers bloom first. The lower flower pedicels are longer than the upper ones giving the inflorescence a rounded or hemispheric shape. The whorls of bracts below the flowers are ⅛”-¼” in length. There usually are 10-20 disk flowers and 5 ray flowers that are ⅛” long and white to pink or pink-purple in color. Flowering occurs from April through July. Fruits are small achenes that are oblong, flattened, smooth, and without pappus hairs or bristles.


Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Above, below and right: Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Russian Knapweed (Acroptilon repens) Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: Eric Coombs, Oregon Dept. of Agriculture, Bugwood.org


Russian Knapweed Acroptilon repens (L.) DC.

ACRE3

Distribution and Habitat: Russian Knapweed was introduced from Eurasia. It is primarily confined to cultivated fields, roadsides, flood plains, and other disturbed areas that are at least seasonally moist. It is widely established throughout the Western United States. It is found at elevations from 4,000’-7,800’ and has been reported specifically in Cache, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Juab, Kane, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, and Washington counties. General Information: Russian Knapweed is classified as a noxious weed in Utah and at least 17 other states. It is also called Creeping Knapweed, Hardheads, or Turestan Thistle.

17

ASTERACEAE

Description: Russian Knapweed is an introduced, perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant, and a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Initially Russian Knapweed emerges in a basal rosette. Stems may be numerous and are 12”-30” tall with short to long, cobwebby, entangled hairy to almost hairless surfaces. The basal leaves often are withered by the time plants flower. The cauline leaves on the stems are ⅜”-2⅓” long, up to ½” wide, and entire or toothed along the margins. Flower heads may be few or numerous and are solitary or in clusters at the ends of branches. The whorls of bracts below the flowers are more or less urn-shaped. The middle and outer bracts are broad and smooth with broader rounded, almost entire, membranous and transparent tips. Inner bracts are narrow and tapering with feathery tips. Flowers are pink to purplish. Fruits are achenes with almost feathery pappus bristles. Flowering occurs from June through September.


Right: Orange Agoseris (A. aurantiaca), © 2010 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Below & Right: Orange Agoseris (A. aurantiaca) © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Mountain Dandelion (Agoseris spp.) Left & right: Pale Agoseris (A. glauca), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above & right: Pale Agoseris (A. glauca) © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org


Mountain Dandelion Agoseris spp. Raf.

AGOSE

Distribution and Habitat: Both species are found on dry to moist open sites from the foothills to the alpine zone, in sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, spruce-fir, and alpine meadow communities on well-drained, nutritionally poor soil. Pale Agoseris varieties occur from 5,525’-11,900’ in all Utah counties. Orange Agoseris occurs from 4,500’-11,100’ in all Utah counties except Millard, Morgan, Rich, and Weber. Mountain Dandelion species are found from Alberta and British Columbia to California and New Mexico. General Information: Leaves may be eaten raw or cooked. The solidified sap (latex) of the stems and leaves of Mountain Dandelion was used by Native Americans like chewing gum. An infusion of the entire plant was used as a wash for sores and rashes. The milky latex was applied to warts and a poultice made from the latex was applied to sores. Species referenced: A. aurantiaca (Hook.) Greene – Orange Agoseris AGAU2 A. glauca (Pursh) Raf. - Pale Agoseris AGGL 18

ASTERACEAE

Description: Mountain Dandelion is the common name for two similar species, Pale Agoseris (AGGL) and Orange Agoseris (AGAU2). Both are native, perennial herbs of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) with milky juice. Pale Agoseris flower stalks are leafless (scapose) and grow from simple or branched taproots. Plants vary from 8”-26” tall. Leaves are all basal, lance-shaped, up to 14” long and 1½” wide, and with smooth or irregularly toothed margins. It has yellow flowers that produce achenes with short, stout, ribbed beaks up to half as long as the body. Orange Agoseris has deep orange flowers that are often pink or purple with age or after drying. It produces achenes that are smooth and tipped with long, slender beaks that are longer than the body. Flowering occurs from May to June and June to August, respectively. Flowers of both become balls of white silky bristles at maturity.


Right: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Above and below: © Patrick Alexander, www. Joseph M. swbiodiversity.org DiTomaso, University of California Davis, Bugwood.org

Western Ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya) Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org


Western Ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya DC.

AMPS

Distribution and Habitat: Western Ragweed is found in meadows, along streambanks and roadsides in sagebrush and other plant communities at elevations from 4,265’-6,790.’ It has been collected and reported in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Juab, Millard, Salt Lake, San Juan, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Washington, and Weber counties. General Information: All species of Ragweed produce abundant pollen, which is a primary hay fever producing agent in late summer. Tea made from the leaves was used by Lakota Indians to relieve swelling and to stop vomiting. Cheyenne Indians used a tea to treat bowel cramps, bloody stools, and colds. The Kiowa made a salve to treat skin sores of man and horses from Western Ragweed.

19

ASTERACEAE

Description: Western Ragweed, also called Cuman Ragweed or just Ragweed, is a native, perennial plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems are 12”-24” tall, simple or branching above the middle. It is hairy with harsh, spreading, many-celled, hairs with small blisters or pustules at the base. Leaves are opposite, at least below, or alternate, with stalks (petioles) or the stem leaves (cauline leaves) attached directly to the stems (sessile) or nearly so. Leaf blades are ≈1½”-4” long and 1”-1¾” wide, and mostly once cleft halfway to the midrib or more but not reaching the midrib. Western Ragweed flowers are borne on terminal branches which have numerous male and a few female flowers. Female flowers do not have petals and are located in leaf axils. Flowering occurs in late summer.


Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Low Pussytoes Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left & below: Š 2005 Steve Matson

(Antennaria dimorpha)

Littleleaf Pussytoes (Antennaria microphylla)

Left: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood. org

Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Left and Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Pussytoes

Antennaria spp. Gaertn. ANTEN

Distribution and Habitat: Littleleaf Pussytoes is found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, spruce-fir, and alpine communities at elevations from 5,500’-12,000’ in all Utah counties. Low Pussytoes occurs in mat saltbush, sagebrush, juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, and spruce-fir-lodgepole communities at 4,700-10,000’ in all Utah counties except Carbon, Garfield, Grand, Kane, Piute, San Juan, Wasatch, Wayne, and Weber. General Information: Littleleaf Pussytoes, also known as Rosy Pussytoes, is the most common species of Antennaria in Utah. It varies broadly, especially in size of plants and conspicuously different dimorphic basal leaves and monomorphic cauline leaves. Low Pussytoes often forms dense gray mats on rocky hillsides. Species Referenced: A. dimorpha (Nutt.) Torr. & A. Gray – Low Pussytoes ANDI2 A. microphylla Rydb. – Littleleaf Pussytoes ANMI3 20

ASTERACEAE

Description: Littleleaf Pussytoes and Low Pussytoes are native, tuft forming, clumpforming, and mat-forming perennial plants of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Littleleaf stems are 1½”-12” tall. Basal leaves are from ¼”-1¼” long, up to ⅓” wide, linear to lance-shaped to spatula-shaped. Stem leaves are linear to narrow oval (elliptic). Individual plants may have either male or female flowers. There are 2-13 or more flower heads in dense to open flat- to round-topped panicle determinate inflorescences (blooming from the terminal end first). Female flower heads are mainly whitish or tinged pink to definitely pink and up to ¼” long. Low Pussytoes basal leaves are up to 1⅝” long, covered with grayish short, soft, wooly hairs, and narrowly inversely lance-shaped. Flower heads are solitary at the end of short leafy stems. Flower heads have disc flowers only and white to brownish bracts. Flowering occurs June August. Fruits are achenes that are smooth to sparingly, minutely hairy.


Burdock (Arctium minus)

Above: © 2006 Louis-M. Landry Above and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Above: © 2006 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

Right and above right: © 2008 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy


Burdock

Arctium minus Berhn. ARMI2 Description: Burdock is a robust, coarse, biennial plant introduced from Europe and a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It produces a rosette of large leaves the first year and an upright, branched stem 1⅔’-6’ tall the second year. Leaf blades are commonly 4”-14” long and 4”-12” wide, heart-shaped or egg-shaped, smooth on top and smooth to thinly hairy on the underside. Flower clusters are on long and unbranched stems giving rise to short-stemmed individual flowers. Flowers are purple and flower heads are ½”-1” thick. Bracts are overlapping like tiles, slender at the tip and inwardly hooked.

General Information: Burdock is a weed of consequence that causes economic losses. The burs often attach to passersby – especially in the hair of long-haired dogs, the wool of sheep, and the manes and tails of horses, and are almost impossible to remove short of cutting them out. The hooked bracts are known to cause acute problems when attached to skin or a surface such as the interior of eyelids.

21

ASTERACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Burdock occurs on mesic areas along ditch banks and roadsides, in campgrounds and in riparian areas at 2,950’-7,650.’ It is widespread in North America and Eurasia. It has been collected in all Utah counties except Beaver, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, Iron, Kane, Morgan, and Sanpete.


Right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Heartleaf Arnica (Arnica cordifolia) Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Above and below: © 2010 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Right: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org


Heartleaf Arnica Arnica cordifolia Hook.

ARCO9

Distribution and Habitat: Heartleaf Arnica is found in boreal and cool temperate climates across the West. In Utah it is found in all counties and at 5,000’-11,000’. It is a dominant ground cover in open-canopy aspen, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and spruce-fir forest communities. It is often found on exposed, moderately dry mineral soils but is common on a variety of soil types. It is tolerant of both sun and shade and is generally fire tolerant, typically sprouting from surviving rhizomes. General Information: Mature leaves of Arnica have a distinctive pine-sage odor that is apparent when they are bruised or rubbed. Various species of Arnica have been used medicinally in Europe for centuries and it is thought to be generally safe when used in topical applications. Commercial Arnica preparations are used by athletes for muscle strains, sprains, and bruises. According to some sources, it can be highly toxic if ingested unless used in homeopathic doses. Heartleaf Arnica is listed as a poisonous plant in the Southwestern U.S. The toxin is reported to be arnicin, a crystalline compound found in the leaves.

22

ASTERACEAE

Description: Heartleaf Arnica is a native, low, perennial plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It produces stems 6”-18” tall with 1-5 yellow, flowering heads composed of 10-15 ray flowers and disk flowers. Reproduction is primarily by rhizomes. Achenes are small (±⅝”), and usually with short hairs nearly to the base. Plants have mostly 2-4 pairs of simple, opposite leaves with petioled pairs becoming fewer up the simple or sometimes branched stems. Leaves are 1-3 times as long as wide and generally shallowly toothed. It flowers from May to August and the common name arises from the fact that the lower leaves are cordate or heart-shaped.


Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above and below: Š 2007 Steve Matson

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) Below: Š 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Left: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus L. ARDR4

Distribution and Habitat: Tarragon is found in dry, open places and disturbed areas in rabbitbrush, sagebrush, skunkbush, salt desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, aspen, spruce-fir, and hanging garden communities at elevations from 2,800’-10,600.’ It is known from herbarium records to occur in all Utah counties except Davis, Morgan, and Summit where no record has been made. It is widespread across most of Canada and the western U.S. General Information: Tarragon may become weedy or invasive in some habitats and as an endangered species in others. It is classified as an endangered plant in Illinois and as an invasive weed in Nebraska. It was widely used by Native Americans in religious ceremonies. A strong, bitter sage tea made from it was used to treat colds, fever, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. As a wash it was used to treat bruises, sores, itches, and eczema and as a deodorant. Dried, crushed leaves were used as snuff to relieve congestion, nose bleeds, and headaches.

23

ASTERACEAE

Description: Tarragon is a native, aromatic, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It is weakly rhizomatous, has clusters of stems that are 20”-60” tall, and that are red in color. Stems are usually smooth and hairless. Leaves are mostly attached directly to stems (cauline), entire or rarely with a few that are cleft, ½”-3” long, and ¼” wide. Leaves are smooth and green on both surfaces. Flower heads are numerous and borne in elongated panicles on very short peduncles or are almost sessile, and are drooping downward. Flowering occurs from the bottom up (indeterminate), and the bracts and flower stalks (pedicels) are hairless. Flowering occurs from July through October. Fruits are smooth achenes without bristles or scales.


Left and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Louisiana Sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana)


Louisiana Sagewort Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.

ARLU

Distribution and Habitat: There are five varieties of Louisiana Sagewort in Utah. Each has specific habitat requirements over a range of environments from riparian, rabbitbrush, cottonwood, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pines, mountain brush, aspen, spruce, and alpine communities and at elevations ranging from 2,500’-11,500.’ In general, Louisiana Sagewort occurs in all Utah counties. General Information: Louisiana Sagewort is used by grazing or browsing animals to some degree. It is aromatic and has played important roles among Native Americans, especially the men, as medicine and in various ceremonies including purification and protection. The translation of the Cheyenne name for it is “man sage.” The species name, ludoviciana, means “of Louisiana,” but refers to the vast Louisiana Territory obtained in the Louisiana Purchase rather than the State of Louisiana.

24

ASTERACEAE

Description: Louisiana Sagewort, also called White Sage, is a perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Louisiana Sagewort is rhizomatous with stems that are 8”-40” tall or more and with a white covering of short, soft, matted, and wooly hairs (white-tomentose) to smooth or hairless. Leaves are alternate, along stems (cauline), entire, and lobed or pinnately incised but not cut or incised to the midrib. Leaves are whitetomentose below, green and smooth or tomentose above and up to 3½” long and up to ⅜” wide. Flower clusters are among the leaves in spikes or panicles. Flower heads are small, numerous and attached to stems or with short pedicels with smooth structures where flower heads are attached (receptacles). Flowers are yellow. Louisiana Sagewort flowers from late July through September.


Left: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) Above: © Patrick J. Alexander, www.swbiodiversity.org

Above and below: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Above: Larry D. Ellicott, Gilbert, AZ

Above: © 2004 James M. Andre


Desert Marigold

Baileya multiradiata Harv. & A. Gray ex A. Gray BAMU

Distribution and Habitat: Desert Marigold is found along roadsides and in creosotebush, Joshua tree, burrobush, blackbrush, and sagebrush communities at elevations from 2,200’-5,300’ in Kane (very limited) and Washington (common) counties. It has also been reported in Beaver County. It is common in the Mojave Desert from southern Nevada and California south into Mexico. General Information: Desert Marigold is also called Desert Baileya, Wild Marigold, and Paperdaisy. It may flower during any month of the year on the Beaver Dam Slope, following the normal springtime flush of growth. It contains hymenoxon, the principal toxin in sneezeweed and bitterweed and has been shown to be poisonous to sheep.

25

ASTERACEAE

Description: Desert Marigold is a native, biennial or short-lived perennial forb of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It has one to several stems, 7½”-19½” tall, arising from a woody base. Stems and leaves are covered with short, soft, matted white hairs. Leaves are up to 4” long and are borne on the lower half of the stem. Leaf blades are once to twice pinnately lobed, egg-shaped to oval, to linear. The lower leaf blades are commonly persistent when the plant is fully flowering (anthesis). Flower stalks are 5”-13” long and flower heads are 1”-2” wide at anthesis. The whorls of bracts below flower heads are up to ⅓” long and ⅔”-1” wide and the individual bracts are slender and greenish. Flower heads have 25-40 yellow ray flowers or more (petal-like flowers) which are ⅜”-¾” or more long. Fruits (achenes) are smooth and pale tan or chalky white. Desert Marigold flowers from March through November.


Below: Cutleaf Balsamroot (B. macrophylla), Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above: Cutleaf Balsamroot (B. macrophylla), © Bert Nelson Below: Arrowleaf Balsamroot (B. saggitata), Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Balsamroot

(Balsamorhiza spp.)

Right: Arrowleaf Balsamroot (B. saggitata), Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above and left: Hooker’s Balsamroot (B. hookeri), Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS Plants Database

Left: Arrowleaf Balsamroot (B. sagittata), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Balsamroot

Balsamorhiza spp. Nutt. BALSA

Distribution and Habitat: Balsamroots are found on open foothills and southerly exposures with well-drained soils in sagebrush, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities at 4,500’-7,000.’ Cutleaf occurs in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Utah, and Weber counties. Arrowleaf has been reported in all counties except Carbon, Piute, Rich, and Wayne. Hooker’s has been reported to occur in Beaver, Box Elder, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Iron, Juab, Salt Lake, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Washington counties. General Information: Balsamroots provide forage for wildlife and livestock. Native Americans dried and ground the taproot into flour and used the sticky sap as a topical antiseptic. Herbalists sometimes use the root as an expectorant and mild immunostimulant. Species Referenced: B. hookeri (Hook.) Nutt.- Hooker’s Balsamroot BAHO B. macrophylla Nutt. - Cutleaf Balsamroot BAMA4 B.saggittata (Pursh.) Nutt. – Arrowleaf Balsamroot BASA3 26

ASTERACEAE

Description: Balsamroots are members of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) that may grow to 2’ tall. They are native, perennial herbs that may occupy the same or similar habitats. Flowering begins in mid-April and may continue into early summer. They have basal leaves and large, yellow, mostly solitary flowers on erect, leafless stems. Flowers can be up to 5” in diameter with ray flowers measuring 1½” long. Balsamroots reproduce from seeds (achenes). Arrowleaf has gray-green, white-wooly, arrowhead-shaped, long petioled leaves. Cutleaf leaves are 15”-30” long, bright green, and pinnately cut or lobed half the distance to the midrib. They are softly pubescent and have a distinctive “medicinal” odor. Hooker’s Balsamroot leaves are 4”-12” long, pinnately lobed and lance-shaped or oblong. Each species has a taproot with a balsam odor.


Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Right: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood. org Below: USDA APHIS PPQ Archives, Bugwood.org

Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans)

Above: Loke T. Kok, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org

Above: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Right: Š 2007 Steve Matson


Musk Thistle Carduus nutans L.

CANU4

Distribution and Habitat: Musk Thistle often occurs in colonies and is a species of disturbed sites. It is found along roads, fields, and pastures. It spreads into sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and mountain brush communities at 4,400’-8,500’ and is likely to occur in all Utah counties. It was introduced from Eurasia into North America in the early 1900s and is now widespread in North America. It was first collected in Daggett County in 1967 and has spread across Utah since then. General Information: Musk Thistle is highly invasive and spreads rapidly forming dense stands which crowd out other vegetation. It is on the noxious weed lists in 25 states including Utah.

27

ASTERACEAE

Description: Musk Thistle, also called Nodding Thistle or Nodding Plumeless Thistle, is an introduced, biennial or annual herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants may be 6½’ tall or taller. Stems are covered with long, cobwebby hairs or short, wooly, matted hairs or are almost smooth. Leaves are alternate and extend downward on the stem (decurrent), are dark green with light green midribs, and are usually 1”-12” long and up to 7⅞” wide. They are linearly lance-shaped to narrowly oval, smooth or with short, wooly, matted hair along the veins on the underside. Flower heads are commonly solitary and nodding. The whorl of bracts beneath the flower head is from ¾”-1⅛” or longer and 1⅛”3⅛” wide. The individual bracts are up to almost ⅓” wide, ovate-lanceshaped to lance-shaped, smooth or almost so, spine-tipped, and have prominent midribs. At least the outermost bracts are bent backward near the middle. Flowers are red purple and fruits (achenes) are ±⅛” long, smooth, marked with vertical lines, and have a blunt or rounded bump on them called an umbo. Musk Thistle reproduces by seed.


Left: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: Carey Minteer, Univ. of Georgia, Bugwood.org Cindy Roche, Bugwood.org

Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) Carey Minteer, Univ. of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Above: Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California Davis, Bugwood.org

Left: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org


Diffuse Knapweed Centaurea diffusa Lam.

CEDI3

Distribution and Habitat: Diffuse Knapweed was introduced from Eurasia. It is highly competitive and thrives along roadsides, disturbed areas, and semiarid rangelands and is now widely distributed throughout the Western United States. In Utah it is found at mid-elevations of 4,000’-8,900’ and has been reported specifically in Cache, Davis, Grand, Juab, Utah, and Wasatch counties. General Information: Diffuse Knapweed is highly invasive and also called White Knapweed or Diffuse Centaurea. The genus Centaurea includes 400+ species that are mainly of the Mediterranean Region of the Old World.

28

ASTERACEAE

Description: Diffuse Knapweed is an introduced plant, a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae), and may be annual or perennial in longevity. Diffuse Knapweed initiates growth as a rosette with deeply divided basal leaves borne on short stems from a central crown and taproot. At maturity it produces 1or 2 stems that are 12”-24” tall. Stems have numerous spreading branches that give the plant a round appearance. Pinnately cleft leaves are borne without petioles (cauline) along the stems, becoming smaller and less deeply cleft up the stem. Flowering occurs from July to September. Flower heads are solitary or in clusters of 2 or 3 at the ends of branches. Flowers are white to rose or sometimes purple and the margins of the involucral bracts are divided like the teeth of a comb and tipped with a stiff, slender spine. The achenes (fruits) are brown to gray and lack a pappus (awns, scales, or bristles) at the tip.


Below: Š 2008 Zoya Akulova

Left and below: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) Below: Stephe Ausmus, USDA ARS, Bugwood.org Below: Cindy Roche, Bugwood.org

Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Yellow Starthistle Centaurea solstitialis L.

CESO3

Distribution and Habitat: Yellow Starthistle is an aggressively invasive plant that grows along roadsides and in disturbed areas in a wide variety of habitats and communities at 3,000’-6,250.’ It has been reported in Box Elder, Cache, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. Yellow Starthistle was introduced from the Mediterranean Region and is now widespread in the United States. General Information: Yellow Starthistle has been reported as a serious rangeland weed problem throughout the Western U.S. where it has caused a reduction in desired plant communities as it has spread. It contains several neurotoxins that cause chewing disease in horses. It is classified as a noxious weed in Utah and at least 11 other states.

29

ASTERACEAE

Description: Yellow Starthistle is an annual or biennial, strongly tap-rooted, introduced forb with a covering of grayish short, soft, wooly, and matted hairs. It is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). The stems are rigidly branched, winged, and 4”-24” tall. Leaves are mainly ⅜”-4¾” long and up to ≈1” wide. The basal leaves are pinnately lobed with the terminal lobe large and rounded and the lower lobes smaller to pinnately lobed half way to the midrib or more but not to the midrib. The cauline (stem) leaves are progressively smaller and with entire margins upward and linear to linear awl-shaped. Flower heads are few to many, solitary, and located at the ends of the branches. The whorls of bracts below the flowers are up to ≈⅝” long and similarly wide, urn-shaped, and with central spine tips ⅜”-¾” long on the middle and outer bracts. The inner bracts have a small, thin, membranous, and translucent appendage. Flowers are yellow and all alike. The central flowers have bristles and ray flowers along the margin do not. Flowering occurs in mid-summer.


Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Left: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Below: Š Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos)

Right: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Left and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Spotted Knapweed

Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek CESTM

Distribution and Habitat: Spotted Knapweed is an invasive plant that grows along roadsides and disturbed areas at elevations of 5,300’-8,400.’ It has been reported in Beaver, Cache, Grand, Juab, Kane, Millard, Salt Lake, San Juan, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Washington counties. Spotted Knapweed is native to Europe and is widespread in the United States. General Information: Spotted Knapweed has been reported as the number one rangeland weed problem in western Montana. Other areas throughout the region have experienced reduction in desired plant communities as Spotted Knapweed has spread. It is classified as a noxious weed in Utah and at least 11 other states.

30

ASTERACEAE

Description: Spotted Knapweed is a biennial or perennial, introduced forb that is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). The stems arise from a stout taproot, are simple or branched above the middle, 12”-40” tall, covered with short, soft, matted hairs or slightly rough with very small hairs. Leaves are up to 3½” long, pinnately lobed half way to the midrib or more but not to the midrib. The lobes are linear to lance-shaped or oblong, smooth along the margins or variously toothed or lobed, and smaller and reduced to bracts in the flower heads. Flower heads are few to many and shaped like half of a sphere or vase-shaped. The whorls of bracts below the flowers are ≈½” long and wide. Bracts have short, black, comb-like tips with the central tooth produced as a short spine. Flowers are pink to purplish or rarely white. Flowers radiate from a central point with some of the flowers united and strap-like. Fruits (achenes) usually have short pappus bristles. Flowering occurs from June to October.


Left, above & below: Joseph DiTomaso, University of California Davis, Bugwood.org

Squarrose Knapweed (Centaurea virgata)

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org


Squarrose Knapweed Centaurea virgata Lam.

CEVI

Distribution and Habitat: Squarrose Knapweed is an invasive plant that grows along roadsides and disturbed areas at elevations of 4,000’-6,000.’ It has been reported in Cache, Garfield, Juab, and Utah counties. Squarrose Knapweed is native to Eurasia and has gained a foothold in the United States. In addition to occurring in Utah, it is found in California, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, and Michigan. General Information: Squarrose Knapweed is classified as a noxious weed in Utah and at least five other states. Squarrose Knapweed is invasive and has spread aggressively, completely replacing desired, native plant communities in some areas in Utah.

31

ASTERACEAE

Description: Squarrose Knapweed is a perennial, introduced forb that is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). The stems arise from a woody base, are more or less covered with grayish, short, soft, matted hairs, are branched above, and 16”-35” tall. Leaves are up to 6” long and 2⅓” wide with the basal leaves having stalks, once or twice pinnately divided. The lobes are linear and often lobed or toothed again. The upper leaves arising from the stem (cauline) are smaller, directly attached to the stem, and lobed to entire. Flower heads are several to numerous and are located at the ends of short branches. The whorls of bracts below the flowers (involucres) are ≈⅜” high and half that wide. Bracts are pale or tinged with red or purple and tipped with a slender, recurved spine. Flowers are pink. Fruits (achenes) have short pappus bristles. Flowering occurs from June to October.


Below: Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org

Left and below: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Left: © 2011 Zoya Akulova

Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California Davis, Bugwood.org

Rush Skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)

Right: Steve Hurst @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above: © 2011 Zoya Akulova


Rush Skeletonweed Chondrilla juncea L.

Description: Rush Skeletonweed is a perennial, introduced forb that is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It has a taproot that is small in diameter and with lateral roots which extend deeply into the soil. Rosettes can arise from buds at the top of the taproot and along major lateral roots. The stems arise from rosettes of prostrate, smooth leaves 1½”-24⅝” long, up to 1¾” or more wide, and inversely lance-shaped. The leaf margins are deeply and irregularly toothed with lobes pointing backward toward the leaf base. The leaf base narrows to a short, winged stalk. Normally, one flowering stem grows per rosette. Flowering stems are up to 3⅓’ tall with many spreading or upward turned branches. Stems are smooth with short, stiff, backward hairs near the base. The stems are commonly leafless but may have long, linear, bract-like leaves, or small rosette-like leaves on the lower part of the stem. The rosette leaves are deciduous, leaving a skeleton-like stem after flowering. The flowerheads are solitary or in groups of 2-5 in the stem branch axils, along the branches, and at the branch ends. Flowering begins in July and each flowerhead has 9-12 yellow florets that produce small achenes with many ribs. The achenes are beaked and with a pappus of numerous soft bristles. Distribution and Habitat: Rush Skeletonweed is an invasive plant native to Eurasia that grows on millions of acres along roadsides and disturbed areas, on rangelands, and in fields in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Although it has not been reported in herbarium collections in Utah, it has been reported to occur through invasive weed management programs. General Information: Rush Skeletonweed roots are brittle and break easily during cultivation or other soil disturbance, inadvertently increasing plant density. There are a number of herbicides available that aid in control. Plants exude a white latex from the herbage and roots when they are broken or cut. 32

ASTERACEAE

CHJU


Left: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Below: © 2007 Louis-M. Landry

Left: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org

Left: © 2007 George W. Hartwell

Below: © 2008 Zoya Akulova

© 2009 Zoya Akulova

Below: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Chicory Above: © 2007 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

(Cichorium intybus)


Chicory

Cichorium intybus L. CIIN

Distribution and Habitat: Chicory grows along roadsides, vacant lots, fencerows and on other disturbed areas at elevations of 2,970’-6,950’. It may grow in hard packed, rocky soils and is most adapted to well-drained soils. It may be associated with other weedy plant species such as cheatgrass and curlycup gumweed. Chicory has been reported in Cache, Duchesne, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Salt Lake, San Juan, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties in Utah. It is widespread in North America. General Information: Chicory was introduced as a pasture forage plant, but was ineffective as such. It is a somewhat invasive plant that flowers in late spring through the middle of fall. It is listed as a noxious weed in Colorado. It has many uses and has been cultivated in Europe and in Michigan in the U.S. The very young leaves can be eaten fresh in salads and the older, bitter leaves can be boiled in several waters and eaten. The best known use of this plant is as a coffee additive or substitute. The roots are roasted and ground to make chicory coffee. Young roots are boiled and eaten like carrots or parsnips in some parts of the world.

33

ASTERACEAE

Description: Chicory is a perennial herb in the Aster or Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) introduced from Eurasia. It grows from a taproot and ranges from 12”-40” or more tall with stems that contain a milky juice. Lower leaves have stalks that clasp the stem and blades 2½”-8” long and ⅓”2” wide, wavy-toothed to sharply cut or lobed, becoming smaller and without stalks up the stem. Leaves alternate up the stem and some leaf blades are only marginally lobed near the top. Flower heads are large and showy with 1-3 per node of the flower head. Flowers are usually pure blue. Seeds (achenes) are small and brown with very small scales at the tip.


Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com Below: © 2005 Louis-M. Landry

Left and above: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Above: Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, Ohio State University, Bugwood.org


Canada Thistle

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop CIAR4

Distribution and Habitat: Canada Thistle is a colony-forming species found along roads, fields, pastures, and disturbed sites. It invades native plant communities including sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, meadow, and aspen communities at 4,200’-8,300’ in all Utah counties. It was introduced from Eurasia into Canada as early as the late 18th Century and is now widespread in North America. General Information: Canada Thistle is highly invasive and spreads rapidly from rhizomes forming dense stands which crowd out other vegetation. It is on the noxious weed lists in 30 states including Utah.

34

ASTERACEAE

Description: Canada Thistle is an introduced, rhizomatous, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems are 20”-40” tall and smooth, or covered with short, wooly, matted hairs. Leaves are up to 6” long and 2⅓” wide, and deeply pinnate or lobed to toothed. Leaf upper and lower surfaces are smooth to short, wooly, matted hairy. There may be several or many flower heads that are mainly unisexual. The whorl of bracts beneath the flower head is from ⅜”-¾” long and ⅜”-1” wide. The individual bracts are lance-egg-shaped to lance-shaped. At least the outermost bracts and often all of them are spine-tipped and smooth, or covered with short, wooly, matted hairs. Flower petals are pink-purple to white. The pappus of the female flowers is longer than the petals and the pappus of male flowers is shorter than the petals.


Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Above, Right, and Right Center: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Above and Below: Forest and Kim Starr, USGS

Above, Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org


Bull Thistle

Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. CIVU

Distribution and Habitat: Bull Thistle is found in moist soils along roads, in fields and pastures, and on rangelands at 4,400’-9,000’ in all Utah counties. It was introduced from Europe and is now widespread in North America. General Information: Bull Thistle can be differentiated relatively easily from Canada Thistle by rough, stiff hairs on the upper surface and soft, cottony hairs on the underside of the leaves while Canada Thistle leaves are mostly smooth on the upper surface. Bull Thistle is on the noxious weed lists in 9 states but not in Utah.

35

ASTERACEAE

Description: Bull Thistle is an introduced, biennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants have short, fleshy taproots. The leaves of basal rosettes are 2”-10” long and up to 3⅛” wide, doubly serrate-toothed to doubly pinnate, short, soft, matted hairy beneath and coarse, stiff hairy above. Stems are 12”-47” tall, spiny-winged by leaf bases that extend downward along the stem. Stem leaves are mostly twice pinnate with surface characteristics like those of the basal leaves. Plants have mostly solitary, terminal, tubular-shaped flower heads. The whorls of bracts beneath flower heads are 1⅛”-1⅝” high and 1⅜”-2¾” wide. Individual bracts are narrowly lance-shaped with spreading spine-tips; soft, wooly, matted hairy along the margins; without a dorsal ridge; and the inner bracts twisted toward the tips. Spines are ±⅛” long and yellowish. Flower petals are rose purple, 1”-1⅜” long. Plants flower from July through September. Fruits are achenes that are topped with a ring of plume-like white hairs.


Left and below: © 2008 Steve Matson

© 2009 Keir Morse, www. keiriosity.com

Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Tapertip Hawksbeard (Crepis acuminata)

Above and right: © 2008 Steve Matson

Left: Steve Hurst @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


Tapertip Hawksbeard Crepis acuminata Nutt.

ARCO9

Distribution and Habitat: Tapertip Hawksbeard is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, white fir, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 4,700’-9,500’ in all Utah counties and from Washington to Montana, south to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. General Information: Tapertip Hawksbeard has several common names including Mountain Hawksbeard, Longleaf Hawksbeard, and Tall Hawksbeard. It is highly regarded as food/ forage for sage grouse hens and chicks as well as deer, elk, pronghorn, cattle, sheep, and horses. It attracts numerous bee genera although it does not require pollinators in order to set seed. The Karok Tribe in California are reported to have peeled and eaten the raw stems of Hawksbeard.

36

ASTERACEAE

Description: Tapertip Hawksbeard is a native, perennial plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). One to several stems, 8”-28” tall, arise from a persistent woody base (caudex) covered with dark brown withered but persistent leaf bases. Stems and leaves are almost smooth to covered with short, soft, matted hairs. Basal and lowermost leaves are 3”-13” long and 1”-5” wide. Leaf blades are borne on stalks (petioles) and are narrowly oval to oblong but narrow at the base. Blades are deeply cleft or lobed halfway to the midrib or more but not reaching the midrib, opposite, and pointed downward toward the base. The lobes are triangular to narrowly awl-shaped and sometimes toothed or lobed. Tapertip Hawksbeard does not have disk flowers like most members of the Sunflower Family, only ray flowers. Flower heads are generally 20-75 in number, cylindrical, and with 5-10 yellow ray flowers having petals ½”-⅔” long. Fruits (achenes) are yellow-tan to dark brown and about ⅓” long and narrow. Hawksbeard flowers from May through August.


Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above and below: © 2010 James M. Andre

Nakedstem Sunray (Enceliopsis nudicaulis)

Above and right: © 2001 Larry Blakely

Above: © 2008 Steve Matson


Nakedstem Sunray Description: Nakedstem Sunray is a native, tufted, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants grow from a branching woody base located near the soil surface. The herbage is slightly covered with short, soft, matted, woolly, silvery white hairs giving it a gray color. Leaves are basal with stalks (petioles) from ¼”-6” long or more, and narrowly winged, if at all. Leaf blades are ¾”-3” long and ½”-4” wide, eggshaped to elliptic, circular or spatula-shaped, wedge-shaped to almost heart-shaped basally, and blunt or rounded at the tip. Plants are stemless but may produce several leafless flower stalks (scapes) that grow from the base of the plant. Scapes are 4”-17” tall, often have a small leafy bract, and each bears a single flower head up to 2” in diameter. The whorls of bracts beneath the flower heads are ½”-⅞” high and 1⅛”-2” or more wide. The bracts are egg-shaped to lance-shaped or linear lance-shaped, and tapered to a point. Each flower head has 13-21 yellow rays that are ⅞”-1½” long and that surround a dense cluster of yellow disk flowers. Fruits are achenes that are up to ½” long, with long silky hair, are wedge-shaped, and are black or dark brown. The pappus commonly consists of 2 awns. Flowers bloom from spring through late summer. Distribution and Habitat: Nakedstem Sunray is commonly found on almost barren knolls containing gypsum or on limestone or dolomite in blackbrush, rabbitbrush, ephedra, shadscale, hopsage, and pinyon-juniper communities at 2,300’-7,000’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne counties. It is also found in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Nevada. General Information: Nakedstem Sunray specimens on limestones and dolomites in Washington County, Utah, and Mojave County, Arizona, may be taller and have larger flower heads than those from other Utah locations. 37

ASTERACEAE

ENNU

Enceliopsis nudicaulis (A. Gray) A. Nelson


Shaggy Fleabane (Erigeron pumilus)

Left and above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Left and above: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Right: William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org


Shaggy Fleabane Erigeron pumilus Nuttall

ERPU2

Distribution and Habitat: Shaggy Fleabane is found in salt desert shrub, sagebrush, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine communities on many substrates at 2,660’-9,620’ and has been documented in all Utah counties. It is found from California to Idaho and Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. General Information: Shaggy Fleabane is highly variable and the most common species of the Erigeron genus in Utah. Fleabanes and Asters are very similar in appearance, and are often mistaken for one another. They are easily distinguished by the bracts. Aster bracts are in several ranks and bent outwards. Fleabane’s have only 1 or 2 ranks of bracts which are nearly equal in length and don’t bend outwards at all, or much less than those of an Aster.

38

ASTERACEAE

Description: Shaggy Fleabane is a native, perennial forb and a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It arises from a woody base (caudex) and the stems are covered with ashy brown, withered but persistent leaf bases. The herbage is covered with coarse, stiff, spreading hairs. Stems are 1⅔”-20” tall and are leafy to almost void of leaves. Basal leaves are <3” long and mostly very narrow and linear to lance-shaped with the attachment at the narrow end. Leaves on the stem are well developed near the bottom and somewhat reduced or much reduced to lacking up the stem. The daisy-like flower heads have numerous (50-100) white, pink, or light blue rays surrounding a narrow disk of yellow disk flowers. The whorl of bracts below the flower head is finely hairy and glandular, with bracts in one row. Fruits are achenes as in the common sunflower.


Left: Š 2006 Louis-M. Landry

Left and above: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Showy Fleabane (Erigeron speciosus)

Below, right, and center right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Showy Fleabane

Erigeron speciosus (Lind.) DC ERSP4

Distribution and Habitat: Showy Fleabane grows in moist open sites in sagebrush, snowberry, ponderosa pine, aspen, spruce-fir, and alpine communities at 5,720’11,115.’ It is reported to occur in all Utah counties with the exception of Morgan and Wayne counties. It is also found from Washington to Alberta south to Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. General Information: Showy Fleabane is a highly variable species of the Erigeron genus. Fleabanes and Asters are very similar in appearance, and are often mistaken for one another. They are easily distinguished by the bracts. Aster bracts are in several ranks and are bent outwards. Fleabane’s have only 1 or 2 ranks of bracts which are nearly equal in length and don’t bend outwards at all, or much less than those of an Aster.

39

ASTERACEAE

Description: Showy Fleabane, also called Aspen Fleabane, is a native, perennial forb and a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It arises from a more or less developed woody base. Stems are ascending to erect and ⅝”-3½” tall. The leaves of Showy Fleabane have hair on the outer margin. The upper leaves are slightly stem-clasping, alternate, and narrower than lower leaves. Leaves may be hairless, spreading-hairy, or glandular. They are triple-nerved with an entire leaf margin. Lower leaves are spatula-shaped, with the narrower part attaching to the stem. The leaves connect with a petiole and tend to fall off as the season advances. Showy Fleabane also has numerous (70 – 150) blue, pink, lavender, or rarely white narrow rays. The ray flowers are thin and about 2” long to twice as long as the involucre bracts. The disk flowers are yelloworange, and each leafless flower stalk has only one flower. Fruits are achenes as in the common sunflower.


Utah Daisy (Erigeron utahensis)

Remaining Photos: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Utah Daisy

Erigeron utahensis A. Gray Description: Utah Daisy, also called Utah Fleabane, is a native, perennial, herbaceous plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems grow from a branching woody base (caudex). The branches have grayish, withering but persistent leaf bases and are usually covered with long, soft, straight to shaggy, white hairs. Stems are 4”-24” tall, erect, and appear grayish or silvery due to straight, stiff, sharp hairs pressed flat against the stems. Basal and lower stem leaves are ⅝”-4” long and up to ¼” wide, linear-inverse-lance-shaped, and often withered or lacking at flowering. Stem leaves are gradually smaller upward. Flower heads are solitary or from few to many. The whorls of bracts below the flowers are up to ½” or more wide and about ¼” high, covered with straight, stiff, sharp hairs pressed flat against the bracts, which are often glandular toward the tips. The bracts overlap like shingles on a roof, are brownish, and the inner bracts have thin, dry, membranous margins. There are 10-40 blue, pink, or white rays on each flower head. The rays are up to almost ¾” long and ⅛” wide. Pappi are double, the inner ones are 20-30 bristles and the outer ones are many bristles. Fruits are 4-nerved achenes that are more or less hairy with long, straight, soft hairs. Distribution and Habitat: Utah Daisy is found in salt desert shrub, creosote bush, blackbrush, warm desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, and mountain brush communities at 2,950’-6,560’ in Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, San Juan, Washington, and Wayne counties. It is also found in Arizona, California, Colorado, and New Mexico. General Information: There are two varieties of Utah Daisy - Slenderleaf Daisy (var. sparsifolius) and Utah Daisy (var. utahensis). Slenderleaf Daisy is on sandstone outcrops (Navajo, Kayenta, Cutler, Cedar Mesa, Hermosa formations) often found in shaded mesic areas, and Utah Daisy is found on more varied substrates. 40

ASTERACEAE

ERUT


Left and below: Yellow Blanketflower (G. flava), Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left and below: Indian Blanketflower (G. aristata), Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.com

Above: Indian Blanketflower (G. aristata), Š 2010 Louis-M. Landry

Left and above: Hopi Blanketflower (G. pinnatifida), Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Blanketflower (Gaillardia spp.)


Blanketflower Gaillardia spp. Foug.

GAILL

Distribution and Habitat: Yellow Blanketflower is an endemic species found along valley bottoms in Desolation and Price River canyons at 4,160’-5,360’ in Emery and Grand counties. Hopi Blanketflower is found in blackbrush, shadscale, and pinyon-juniper communities at 2,370’ to 6,790’ from Carbon and Grand south to Kane and San Juan counties. Indian Blanketflower occurs at 7,000’-9,400’ in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah counties. General Information: Hopi Blanketflower has been reported to be used as a diuretic by the Hopi. Species Referenced: G. aristata Pursh – Indian Blanketflower GAAR G. flava Rydb. – Yellow Blanketflower GAFL G. pinnatifida Torr. – Hopi Blanketflower GAPI 41

ASTERACEAE

Description: Blanketflowers are native, mostly perennial herbs that are members of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Yellow Blanketflower develops from a persistent, almost rhizomatous, woody base with stems that are from 8” to more than 20”. Hopi Blanketflower stems grow to around 22” from a usually weak base. Indian Blanketflower stems are 8”-31” tall. Leaves of Yellow Blanketflower are 1”-3” long, pinnately incised, slightly dusty-looking and dotted with glands. Hopi Blanketflower leaves occur to the middle of stems or, may be all basal, petioled and elliptic to oblanceolate to linear-oblong, and 1”-3” long with a dusty appearance and dotted with glands. Indian Blanketflower leaves are up to 6” long, elliptic or oblong to oblanceolate and can be entire or toothed to pinnatifid. Yellow Blanketflower heads are solitary on 10” stems with yellow disk flowers and yellow ray flowers having small lobes. Hopi Blanketflower heads are also solitary on long peduncles, but disks are purple and rays are yellow with small lobes. Indian Blanketflower heads are solitary or few with long peduncles. Disks are purple and rays are yellow and purplish at the base.


Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa)

Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left and Above: © 2011 Larry Blakely

Below: © Patrick J. Alexander. USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


Curlycup Gumweed

Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal GRSQ

Distribution and Habitat: Curlycup Gumweed is found in disturbed areas, along stream banks, along roadsides, and in abandoned fields in most plant communities at elevations from 3,000’-8,000’ and in all Utah counties. It occurs throughout the U.S. with the exception of the Southeastern States, West Virginia, Alaska, and Hawaii. General Information: Various Native American peoples used Curlycup Gumweed flower heads and leaves to make a tea or a hot poultice for a number of medicinal purposes. Today, medicinal uses include treatment of bronchial spasm, whooping cough, asthma, and rashes caused by poison ivy. Curlycup Gumweed extract is valuable as a stimulant, sedative, astringent, purgative, emetic, diuretic, antiseptic, and disinfectant. Curlycup Gumweed is known to accumulate selenium when growing in selenium-rich soils. Although horses have been reported to eat the flower heads, the plant is generally not grazed by livestock and wildlife.

42

ASTERACEAE

Description: Curlycup Gumweed is a native, perennial or biennial forb and a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants are 4”-30” tall with smooth stems. Basal leaves are ¾”-6” long, oblong to lance-shaped, entire to coarsely and irregularly toothed or somewhat lobed. Stem leaves (cauline leaves) are alternate, gradually smaller upward, commonly thick-toothed and sometimes sharp-toothed or entire with upper leaves clasping the stems. Flower heads have parts spreading from a central point, are strongly resinous, and have green bracts that are strongly rolled back. Flower heads have 25-40 ray flowers that are yellow but some variants with rayless flower heads are common in some geographic locations. Disk flowers are also yellow. Flowering occurs from July through September in Utah.


Top five photos: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Oneflower Sunflower (Helianthella uniflora)

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Below: Š 2012 Gary A. Monroe


Oneflower Sunflower HEUN

Helianthella uniflora (Nutt.) Torr. & A. Gray

Distribution and Habitat: Oneflower Sunflower is found on dry canyon hillsides and foothills in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 4,200’-10,600’ elevation in all Utah counties. It occurs from Alberta south to Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. General Information: Oneflower Sunflower produces many seeds that are used by numerous animals including insects, birds, and bears. The leaves, flowers, and tender portions of the stems are grazed by all classes of grazing animals. The flowers are a pollen source for a variety of bees including the native mason bee. The Piute Indians made a hot poultice of mashed root to treat swelling and sprains. The Shoshoni used an infusion of the root as a wash or compress for headaches. 43

ASTERACEAE

Description: Oneflower Sunflower is a native, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) with a branching woody base (caudex) arising from a stout taproot. Stems are 2’-3’ tall, hairless on the lower stem or more or less spreading-hairy and rough throughout. Basal leaves have petioles (stalks), are about 1”-6” long and up to 2⅛” wide, with strongly 3-veined blades, inversely lance-shaped to elliptic or lanceshaped, entire in outline, and blunt- or pointed-tipped with straight sides. Stem leaves (cauline leaves) are often enlarged and prominently 3-nerved near the middle of the stem, then smaller and becoming sessile or nearly so on the upper stem. Flower heads are erect, solitary or 2-3. Disks are up to 1” wide and disk flowers are yellow. Bracts below are linearly lance-shaped (sometimes the outermost are leaf-like), gradually tapering to a sharp point or blunt, rough from small hairs, and with a fringe of hairs along the margins. There are 13-17 yellow ray flowers with petals ¾”-1¾” long. Oneflower Sunflower blooms from May through August. Fruits are achenes about ¼” in length with long, straight, soft hairs.


Below: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Below: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Above and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Below: © 2010 Louis-M. Landry

Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Above and below: © 2003 George W. Hartwell

Above: © 2012 Gary A. Monroe


Common Sunflower Helianthus annuus L.

HEAN3

Distribution and Habitat: Common Sunflower is found in disturbed areas in various plant communities at elevations from 3,900’-8,000’ in all Utah counties. It is widespread in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere. General Information: Common Sunflower was “domesticated” by Indians of the Americas over the last 3,000 years. Seed size is reported to have been increased over 1,000% through selection for the largest seeds. Seeds were eaten raw, roasted, cooked, dried, and ground to obtain the oil. Juice from freshly cut stems was used to dress cuts and other wounds and teas and poultices of roots or leaves were used for treating snakebite, sores, and swelling, among other maladies. Purple and black dyes were extracted from Common Sunflower for use in basketry and cosmetic applications.

44

ASTERACEAE

Description: Common Sunflower is a native, annual plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems are simple or branched, rough with firm, stiff hairs, and 1’-13’ tall. Leaves are alternate above, 2”-15¾” long and ≈¾”-15¾” wide, lance-egg-shaped to broadly egg-shaped, tapering to a point or rounded at the tip and serrate, squared off, or heart-shaped at the base. Leaves are rough with stiff hairs, or minutely so, on both sides, and with petioles (leaf stalks). Flower heads are solitary or few to several. Disks are about 2” wide and the disk flower petals are reddishbrown. Bracts below the head are lance-egg-shaped to egg-shaped, tapered to a thin point or with a tail-like appendage, rough with stiff hairs, or minutely so, and with a marginal fringe of hairs. Ray flowers are yellow. Fruits are gray to brown achenes that are ¼” long, wedgeshaped, somewhat flattened to 4-angled, and smooth except for a few short hairs at the tip.


Below and right: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Right: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers. com

Showy Goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora var. multiflora)

Above, left and below: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org


Showy Goldeneye

HEMUM

Heliomeris multiflora Nutt. var. multiflora

Distribution and Habitat: Showy Goldeneye is found in sagebrush, juniper, pinyon-juniper, cottonwood, aspen and spruce-fir communities as well as riparian sites at elevations from 4,400’-10,125’ in all Utah counties and from Montana to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. General Information: Showy Goldeneye is commonly found along roadsides and in open sites. It is not shade-tolerant. Welsh et al. (2003) recognize two weakly discernible varieties, Showy Goldeneye, Viguiera multiflora Nutt. var. multiflora (VIMUM), and Nevada Goldeneye, Viguiera multiflora Nutt. var. nevadensis (A. Nelson) S.F. Blake. (VIMUN).¹ The leaves of Nevada Goldeneye are narrower and rolled to the underside. Nevada Goldeneye also inhabits sites that are drier than sites where Showy Goldeneye is found. Nevada Goldeneye is reported to be found in Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, and Washington counties. ¹ Note: The current name for Viguiera multiflora, incuding varieties, is Heliomeris multiflora. 45

ASTERACEAE

Description: Showy Goldeneye is a native perennial herb of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems arise from a highly branched woody base (caudex). They may be 1”-39” tall and have short, stiff hairs pressed close to the surface causing stems to be rough to the touch. Leaves are lance-shaped or long and narrow, mostly opposite and ½”-3” long. Leaves may have continuous, smooth or serrated margins and short stalks (petioles). They may have flat surfaces or edges rolled toward the underside. Leaves may be sharp-pointed or rounded to blunt at the tip. There are usually two to several flower heads with golden-yellow disk and ray flowers. Flower heads are 1”-1½” wide and have 10-14 petals (ray flowers) that are commonly up to ¾” long. Fruits (achenes) are four-sided, brown, without bristles at the tip, and smooth.


Below: William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org Right and bottom left: © Max Licher, www. swbiodiversity.org

Orange Sneezeweed (Hymenoxys hoopesii)

Above and right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Above: © Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

© Max Licher


Orange Sneezeweed

Hymenoxys hoopesii (A. Gray) Bierner HYHO

Distribution and Habitat: Orange Sneezeweed grows in sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, and spruce-fir communities, often in open areas or riparian zones at elevations from 6,000’-11,800’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Utah, Wasatch, and Washington counties. General Information: Orange Sneezeweed is a poisonous plant causing an often fatal condition in sheep called “spewing sickness.” It contains sesquiterpene lactones, which are irritants to the nose, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract. The primary toxin is hymenovin (dugaldin), but at least four other lactones play a role in the toxicity. Navajo weavers used Orange Sneezeweed to make three different color dyes – bright yellow, light canary yellow, and mustard. 46

ASTERACEAE

Description: Orange Sneezeweed, also called Owl’s-Claws, is a native, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) with an almost rhizomatous woody base and fibrous roots. Stems are 8”-31½” tall. Stems and leaves are more or less covered with long or short, soft, wooly hairs or almost smooth. Basal leaves remain attached at flowering, are ≈¾”12½” long and up to 2” wide, and are inversely lance-shaped tapering to a clasping base. Stem leaves are smaller upward on the stems, are inversely lance-shaped to elliptic or lance-shaped, entire, and clasping at the base. Plants have 2-11 flower heads in loose flat- or roundtopped inflorescences. Orange disks are shaped like half of a sphere and are about ¾”-1⅓” across. The whorl of bracts beneath the disks are ≈⅓” high. There are 13-21 ray flowers that are yellow or yellow orange, about ⅝”-1⅜” long, and drooping or bent downward at the tips. Flowering occurs from June through August. Fruits are achenes with pappus scales that are thin, membranous, and translucent, lance-shaped, and tapering to a thin tip.


Below: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Above and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Below: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Colorado Rubberweed (Hymenoxys richardsonii)


Colorado Rubberweed Hymenoxys richardsonii (Hook.) Cockerell

HYRI

Distribution and Habitat: Colorado Rubberweed is found in salt desert shrub, cool desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, aspen, fir, and western bristlecone pine communities. It has been found at elevations from 4,790’-11,925’ in Beaver, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Washington, and Wayne counties. Colorado Rubberweed is also found from Alberta and Saskatchewan south to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. General Information: Colorado Rubberweed is poisonous to cattle, sheep, and goats. It is often common on historic sheep range. The principal toxins involved are sesquiterpene lactones and the principal lactone in play is hymenovin, but other compounds are also contributing. These toxins are irritants to the eyes, nose, and gastrointestinal tract. 47

ASTERACEAE

Description: Colorado Rubberweed, also called Pingue or Pingue Rubberweed, is a native, tuft-forming, perennial forb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems arise from a many-branched and especially woody caudex. Caudex branches are covered with a thatch of withering but persistent brown leaf bases, usually with leaf axils covered with long, soft, shaggy, unmatted hairs. Stems may be few or numerous, 2⅓”15¾” tall, and are simple below and branched above. Plants have both basal and cauline leaves ¾”-4¾” long. Leaves have three leaflets or 5-7 linear segments or some are entire. Leaves vary from hairy to smooth. The whorl of bracts below flowers are like half of a sphere and near ¼”⅓” high. The outer bracts are fused at the base, thickened, green or with a papery texture and not green, and with long, soft, shaggy, unmatted hairs. There are 9-14 yellow ray flowers that are 3-lobed, and ⅓”-¾” long or longer. Fruits are hairy achenes.


Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Above: Ohio State Weed Lab, Ohio State Univ., Bugwood.org

Above: Š Patrick Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Left: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org Left: Ohio State Weed Lab, Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) Left: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola L.

LASE Description: Prickly Lettuce is a biennial or winter annual herb in the Aster or Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) that was introduced from Europe. Stems are erect, 12”-70” or more tall, rough with firm, stiff hairs below or smooth overall, and with herbage that contains a milky juice. Leaves are usually 1”-12” long, and up to 4” wide, pinnately cleft or lobed with lobes separated broadly or only spiny-toothed. Leaf blades are twisted at the base orienting the blades vertically and are covered with bristles or stiff hairs on the main veins on the underside. Flowerheads contain 6-12 flowers that are yellow to fading blue, and several to many in a paniculate cluster. The pappus is white and fruits (achenes) are brown, inversely egg-shaped to oblong, and flattened with stiff hairs along the margin toward the tip. Flowering occurs from July to September.

General Information: Prickly Lettuce is thought to be invasive on lower elevation rangelands. It is eaten by both wildlife and livestock when immature. Although it is not generally recognized as a poisonous plant, it has been implicated in poisoning of cattle.

48

ASTERACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Prickly Lettuce is not very common in native plant communities. It mainly grows along roadsides, vacant lots, fence rows, and on other disturbed areas at elevations of 2,800’-7,680’ in all Utah counties. It is widespread in North America.


Below: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Above: © 2005 James M. Andre

Tansyleaf Aster (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia)

Above, right, center right, & bottom right: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity. com

Above: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.com


Tansyleaf Aster

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (Humboldt, Bonpland, & Kunth) Nees MATA2

Distribution and Habitat: Tansyleaf Aster is found in mixed desert shrub, salt desert shrub, and pinyon juniper communities at elevations from 2,750’-5,950’ in Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sevier, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Wayne counties. General Information: Tansyleaf Aster is somewhat weedy. It readily moves into disturbed sandy and silty soils. It is commonly found in vacant lots. Asters and Fleabanes are often mistaken for one another. They are easily distinguished by the bracts. Aster bracts are in several ranks and often bent outwards. Fleabane’s have only 1 or 2 ranks of bracts which are nearly equal in length and don’t bend outwards as markedly as an Aster.

49

ASTERACEAE

Description: Tansyleaf Aster is a native, tap rooted annual to biennial plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems are 3”-20” tall, often marked with usually parallel lines or grooves tinged with purple. Stems are simple or branched, forming rounded clumps, and are glandular-fine hairy to shaggy-hairy. Leaves are ⅜”-2⅓” long, once or twice deeply lobed with the segments ending in spiny bristles. It flowers from July to October producing 1 to many flower heads in flat-topped or round-topped clusters. Whorls of bracts below individual flower heads are shaped like half spheres. Bracts are linear and lance-shaped with pointed tips, papery at the base, green at the spreading, bent backward tips. Flower heads have 11-23 pink-purple, blue-purple, or violet ray flowers about ½” long. Tansyleaf Aster produces achenes with soft, straight hairs that are approximately 1/10” inch long.


Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Tarweed (Madia glomerata)

Above, left, & below: Š 2008 Steve Matson

Above: Š 2008 Steve Matson

Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Tarweed

Madia glomerata Hook. MAGL2

Distribution and Habitat: Tarweed is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, spruce-fir, grass-forb, and alpine meadow communities at 6,000’-10,400’ in Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Iron, Juab, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. It is also found from Alaska to Eastern Canada, south to California, Arizona, and Colorado. General Information: Tarweed is a weedy forb common on previously disturbed mountain areas such as roadsides, cabin sites, meadows disturbed by pocket gophers, and historic sheep bedgrounds. It is known to dominate some mountain rangeland sites reportedly by inhibiting the germination of seeds of other species. It has caused difficulty in rehabilitation of areas it dominates.

50

ASTERACEAE

Description: Tarweed is a native, annual or biennial, scented, and taprooted forb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems are 3⅛”-15¾” tall and simple or branched. Leaves and stems are covered with straight, stiff, sharp, appressed hairs and with long, bristle-like, multi-cellular hairs on the leaf bases and the stems above. Stems also have glandular hairs borne on stipes upward on the stems. The herbage has a disagreeable odor. Leaves are ½”-3½” long, up to about ¼” wide, and linear in outline. Flower heads are in dense, or sometimes open, terminal clusters. The ray flowers are inconspicuous, very small, and yellow or purplish. There are 1-10 disk flowers per flower head. Flowering occurs from June through August. Fruits are hairless, 5-nerved achenes.


Below: Bonnie Million, National Park Service, Bugwood.org

Scotch Thistle

Above: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org © 2007 Louis-M. Landry

(Onopordum acanthium) Vince Belleci, Bugwood.org

Right: Lesley Ingram, Bugwood. org

© 2007 Louis-M. Landry


Scotch Thistle

Onopordum acanthium L. ONAC

Distribution and Habitat: Scotch Thistle is a species of disturbed sites. It is found in fields, pastures, and vacant lots as well as in sagebrush, riparian, aspen, and other native plant communities at 4,000’-7,000.’ It has been collected and reported in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Kane, Millard, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. It has spread relatively quickly in Utah and probably is found statewide at this time. It was introduced from Europe and is now widespread in North America. It was first reported in Utah in 1966. General Information: Scotch Thistle is highly invasive and spreads rapidly crowding out other vegetation. Stands may be dense and impenetrable. Basal rosettes have been reported to reach huge dimensions - up to several decimenters across. Scotch Thistle is on the noxious weed lists in 14 states including Utah.

51

ASTERACEAE

Description: Scotch Thistle, also called Winged Thistle or Cotton Thistle, is an introduced, biennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It may be 12’ tall or taller and it has an obvious leafy stem that arises from a taproot. Leaves of the basal rosette are grayish, 2”-20” long or longer and up to 6” wide, pinnately lobed with serrate-dentate margins, hairy with soft, wooly, matted hairs on upper and lower surfaces but less on the upper ones, and spiny. Stem leaves are pinnately lobed, smooth to soft, wooly, matted hairy; and strongly winged-decurrent along the stem length (leaves extended downward on the entire stem). The whorl of bracts beneath the flower head is from 1”-1⅜” high and ≈1⅛”-2⅝” wide. The individual bracts are lance-shaped tapering to a narrow tip with spreading spine tips and soft, short, matted hairy to almost smooth along the margins. The inner bracts are erect. Spines are almost ¼” long and yellowish. Petals are reddish purple to pink.


Copperweed (Oxytenia acerosa)

All photos unless otherwise labeled: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above and right: Š 2010 James M. Andre


Copperweed

Oxytenia acerosa Nuttall OXAC4 Description: Copperweed is a native, perennial, riparian herb and a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants are 20”-48” tall. Stems are marked with fine parallel lines or grooves and are erect, arising from a woody base (caudex). Leaves are alternate and 1”-6” long and pinnately 3-lobed to 7-lobed or with the upper leaves simple (not pinnately lobed). The herbage has short, stiff, sharp hairs flat against the stems and leaves. Flower heads are dense panicles, broomlike in form and erect or curving upward. Flowers are small and yellow or orange at maturity giving it the appearance of a goldenrod. Copperweed turns copper colored and remains that color through the summer.

General Information: Copperweed is toxic to cattle and sheep, although animals rarely eat enough to harm them if other forage is available. The plant is toxic at all times of the year and the exact toxin has not been defined. Liver and kidney degeneration occur in fatally poisoned animals.

52

ASTERACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Copperweed is found in saline riparian areas and near seeps and springs at 3,965’-6,950’ in Eastern Utah counties (Colorado Plateau). These counties include Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne. It is also found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.


Left: © 2009, Gary A. Monroe

Remaining photos: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Lobeleaf Groundsel (Packera multilobata)


Lobeleaf Groundsel

Packera multilobata (Torr. & A. Gray ex A. Gray) W.A. Weber & Á. Löve PAMU11

Distribution and Habitat: Lobeleaf Groundsel is found in blackbrush, desert shrub, pinyonjuniper, sagebrush, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, aspen, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir communities at 3,000’ to more than 11,000’ and in all Utah counties. General Information: Lobeleaf Groundsel has been used in land restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement plantings. The flowers attract a variety of insects. While it is known to have been used medicinally by Native Americans as an aid for a variety of internal problems, Lobeleaf Groundsel contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and may present a health risk if consumed in sufficient quantities.

53

ASTERACEAE

Description: Lobeleaf Groundsel, also called Butterweed Groundsel or Uinta Groundsel, is a short-lived, native, annual/biennial/perennial, taprooted forb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants grow from 4”-20” tall and herbage may vary from smooth to being covered with short, tangled, soft, wooly hairs all over or only in the leaf axils of basal leaves. Stems arise from basal leaves that are spatula-shaped or obovate (egg-shaped, attached at the narrow end), from 2”-5” long, and up to 1⅓” wide. Basal leaves are lobed up to midway to the midrib with larger, rounded lobes toward the tip. Cauline leaves (stem leaves) are progressively smaller upward on the stems. Flower heads are few or many, in a flat-topped or round-topped and unbranched, elongated inflorescence with individual flowers on stalks and maturing from the bottom upward. Disk and ray flowers (7-13) are yellow.


Below: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Greenstem Paperflower (Psilostrophe sparsiflora)

Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Below: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Greenstem Paperflower Psilostrophe sparsiflora (A. Gray) A. Nelson

PSSP

Distribution and Habitat: Greenstem Paperflower is found in salt desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, and sagebrush communities at 4,700’-6,700’ in Garfield, Kane, San Juan, and Wayne counties as well as in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. General Information: Greenstem Paperflower can be recognized and distinguished from other Paperflower species in Utah by the green stems. Paperflower species contain sesquiterpene lactones and are toxic and known to have poisoned sheep. They have the potential to be poisonous to other animals.

54

ASTERACEAE

Description: Greenstem Paperflower is a native, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems arise from a woody base, are 5½”-23⅝” tall, green, densely to moderately hairy with long, straight, soft, white hairs at the base, and sparingly hairy with long, soft, shaggy or short, soft, matted, woolly hairs on the upper stems. Leaves are alternate, simple and entire or lobed, ⅓”-4½” long and up to ⅜” or more wide. They are spatula-shaped to inversely lance-shaped or linear, hairy (like the stems) or smooth. Flower heads may be few to many in a roundedtopped inflorescence with lower pedicels longer than the upper ones. The involucres (whorls of bracts beneath the flower heads) are about ¼” high and ¼” wide. There are usually 3 yellow rays, up to ½” long, becoming papery and persistent and soon bent backwards. Disk flowers are perfect and 5-lobed. Fruits are yellowish achenes. Plants flower from May to October.


Western Coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)

Above: © Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Right: © 2011 Kaytlyn Pratt

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above: James L. Reveal, Norton-Brown Herbarium, University of Maryland, from Digital Flora of Texas


Western Coneflower Rudbeckia occidentalis Nutt.

RUOC2 Description: Western Coneflower is a native, perennial herb and a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants are 20”-80” tall. Stems are erect and smooth to hairy with short, stiff, sharp hairs. Plants arise from coarse, woody rhizomes. Leaves have short stalks lower on the stem becoming sessile (attached) and more or less clasping near the top. Leaf blades are 2”-8” long and 1”-4” wide and heart-shaped, eggshaped, or broadly lance-shaped tapering to a point. Leaf margins are entire (continuous), round-toothed to saw-toothed, or moderately to coarsely toothed. Flower heads are dark purple to dark brown in color, disk-shaped and ⅔”-1” wide and up to 2⅓” long. Western Coneflower has only disk flowers (no ray flowers).

General Information: Western Coneflower is not an important forage plant. Most use is reported to occur after frost and horses are known to take the flower heads. Young stems have been used for food but the primary use of this plant has been for medicinal purposes. It is reported to have diuretic qualities and to stimulate the heart. Tea made from Western Coneflower roots was used to treat colds. The tea was also used as a wash to heal sores, snakebites, and swelling. Juice from the roots was dropped into the ear to cure earaches.

55

ASTERACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Western Coneflower is found in mountain brush, aspen, aspen-tall forb and spruce-fir communities at 6,900’-10,300’ and reported to occur in all Utah counties except Daggett, Garfield, Grand, Morgan, Rich, San Juan, Uintah, and Wayne. It is found from the Pacific Northwestern States and Montana to California and Nevada.


Right: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood. org

Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Left: Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Lambstongue Ragwort (Senecio integerrimus)

Tall Ragwort (Senecio serra)

Left and below: Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Left and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Ragwort

SENEC

Senecio spp. L.

Distribution and Habitat: Both Ragworts are found in moist areas in sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, forb-grass, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir plant communities from around 5,000’-12,000.’ Lambstongue Ragwort is found in all Utah counties while Tall Ragwort has been collected and reported in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Grand, Juab, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Summit, Utah, Weber, and Wasatch counties. General Information: Plants of the Senecio have been found to contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in concentrations high enough to present risk to livestock. Species Referenced: S. integerrimus Nutt. – Lambstongue Ragwort SEIN2 S. serra Hook. - Tall Ragwort SESE2 56

ASTERACEAE

Description: Lambstongue Ragwort, also known as Columbia Groundsel, and Tall Ragwort, also known as Saw Groundsel are native, perennial forbs of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) that grow from persistent woody bases (caudexes). Lambstongue Ragwort has a short semi-rhizomatous caudex which produces 1 or more upright stems from 4”-24” tall while Tall Ragwort stems are uniformly leafy, erect, 16”- 60” or more tall, and smooth or slightly rough with short, soft hairs. Basal and lower stem leaves of both species have short stalks, are 1”-8” long and up to 1½” wide. The leaves of Lambstongue Ragwort are lance-shaped or oblong while those of Tall Ragwort are narrowly lance-shaped or linear. Lambstongue Ragwort leaf margins are typically entire but sometimes serrated or toothed. Tall Ragwort leaf margins are toothed or almost entire. Upper leaves of Lambstongue Ragwort are smaller than lower leaves and are covered with cobwebby hairs when young but become smoother as the plant matures. Flowerheads of both species are flattopped to round-topped. Lambstongue has 8-13 yellow ray flowers while Tall Ragwort has 5-8 yellow ray flowers. Fruits of both species are achenes which have white bristles at the tip.


Above: Theodore Webster, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Below: Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org

Above: © 2006 Steve Matson Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Common Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Missouri Goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) Below: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Goldenrod

SOLID

Solidago spp. L.

Distribution and Habitat: Missouri Goldenrod is found in riparian communities at 5,000’-8,120’ in Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, and Wasatch counties. Common Goldenrod occurs at up to 7,500’ in all Utah Counties. General Information: Missouri Goldenrod is the state flower of Nebraska. Both species can be weedy in some settings due to the aggressive rhizomatous growth characteristic. Solidago species strongly attract bees and other insects when flowering in the late summer and fall throughout North America. Species Referenced: S. canadensis L. - Common Goldenrod SOCA6 S. missouriensis Nutt. – Missouri Goldenrod SOMI2 57

ASTERACEAE

Description: Missouri and Common Goldenrod are native, perennial, herbaceous plants in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems of both species emerge from creeping rhizomes and may be up to 20” tall or more in Missouri and 48” or more in Common Goldenrod. Stems of Missouri often have a purple tinge near the base. Herbage of Common is minutely hairy with short incurved hairs, or the lower stems may be smooth. Foliage of Missouri Goldenrod is smooth or may be sparingly hairy in the inflorescence. Both species often have basal leaves that are withered at flowering. The main stem leaves of Missouri are ¾”-5⅛” long and up to 4” long for Common. Leaves of both are lance-shaped to linear, tapering to a sessile base and leaf blades are 3-nerved. Missouri Goldenrod leaves are entire or almost so, and sharp-pointed or blunt to round at the tip. Common Goldenrod leaves may be serrate to entire. The inflorescences of both species may be arranged on only one side of the axis somewhat or not. Missouri Goldenrod flower heads have 7-13 yellow rays and Common Goldenrod flower heads have 1017 yellow rays.


Remaining photos: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Western Aster (Symphyotrichum ascendens) Below: William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org

Above: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org


Western Aster

Symphyotrichum ascendens (Lindl.) Nesom SYAS3 Description: Western Aster is a native, perennial plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It is robust, branching from rhizomes or a woody base, growing up to 50” tall. It flowers from July to October producing 6” flower spikes with 2” purple flowers. Flower heads are relatively small with conspicuous outer bracts bent outward. The disk flowers are yellow and the 15-40 ray flowers are pink to lavender ranging from ¼”-¾” long. Western Aster reproduces from rhizomes and seed. The leaves are hairy to smooth with a fringe of hairs on the margins. Lower leaves generally have petioles and drop at maturity in taller plants. Leaves become smaller and without petioles toward the upper part of the plant.

General Information: Western Aster, also called Pacific Aster, is the most common and most variable aster species. It is a generalized species with no clearly defined features. It is separated from closely related species by characteristics that are intangible. There is evidence that Western Aster is a secondary or facultative selenium accumulator. This means that it will bind selenium in its organic forms if it is present in the soil but it does not require selenium for growth. Asters and Fleabanes are often mistaken for one another. They are easily distinguished by the bracts. Aster bracts are in several ranks and often bent outwards. Fleabane’s have only 1 or 2 ranks of bracts which are nearly equal in length and don’t bend outwards as markedly as an Aster.

58

ASTERACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Western Aster is found in both wet and dry habitats on alluvial fans, terraces, and slopes along stream and canal banks. It is found in rabbitbrush, sagebrush, grass-sedge, cottonwood-willow, ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 2,750’-10,400’ in all Utah counties.


Left: Lynn Sosnoskie, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Above and below: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.com

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Above and below: Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood. org

Left: Š 2006 Louis-M. Landry


Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H. Wiggers

SOLID

Distribution and Habitat: Common Dandelion is native to Eurasia and is widespread across North America. It most commonly occurs in disturbed areas such as cut-over or burned forests, avalanche areas, meadows, riparian areas, and marshy floodplains. It also occurs along road and railroad rightsof-way, old fields, pastures, and lawns. In Utah it grows at elevations from 2,875’-12,500’ and is found in all Utah counties. Common Dandelion is found on a variety of soils. General Information: Common Dandelion provides fair to good forage for livestock and wildlife, and is readily eaten. Antelope, as well as sage and forest grouse, use it heavily. Young leaves can be eaten as spring greens. Roots can be ground and used as a coffee substitute, mild laxative, or to treat heartburn. Tea and wine can be made from the flowers. Flowers can also be fried in batter and eaten.

59

ASTERACEAE

Description: Common Dandelion is an introduced, perennial forb, 1”-24” tall with erect, leafless stems (scapes), which contain a bitter, milky-white juice. It is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Roots are fleshy, strong taproots. Annual growth arises in a rosette from a simple or branched woody base. Leaves are 2”-16” long, up to 4” wide, pinnately lobed to cleft over halfway to the midrib. The end lobe is broader than the lobes along the sides of the leaf. Surfaces of leaves can be lightly pubescent. Flower stalks may be almost smooth or with soft, shaggy, unmatted hairs, often densely hairy beneath the flower head. Yellow flowers are produced April to October. Seeds (achenes) of dandelion are topped by a parachute of bristles that aid in dissemination.


Left and below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Below: © 2010 James M. Andre

Below: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Stemless Four-nerve Daisy (Tetraneuris acaulis)


Stemless Four-nerve Daisy Tetraneuris acaulis (Pursh) Greene

TEAC

Distribution and Habitat: Stemless Four-nerve Daisy is found in salt desert shrub, sagebrush, rabbitbrush, ephedra, and pinyon-juniper communities at 3,770’-10,420’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Wasatch, Washington, and Wayne counties. General Information: There are five varieties of Stemless Four-nerve Daisy in Utah; Arizona Woollybase (var. arizonica), Caespitose Four-nerve Daisy (var. caespitosa), Low Hymenoxys (var. nana), Ives’ Woollybase (var. ivesiana), and another called Stemless Four-nerve Daisy (var. epunctata). Native American’s made a stimulating tea from the leaves of Stemless Fournerve Daisy and also applied the leaves as a local anesthetic.

60

ASTERACEAE

Description: Stemless Four-nerve Daisy, also called Stemless Woollybase, is a native, perennial, herbaceous plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants are stemless and grow in tufts from a short, many-headed woody base (caudex). The caudex branches have short brownish or blackish withering but persistent leaf bases. The scapes are smooth or bearing long, soft, shaggy but unmatted hairs. Leaves are basal, up to 2⅓” long and ⅓” wide, glandular-dotted or without dots, linear to inversely lanceshaped, entire, and tipped with short, sharp, abrupt points or not. Flower heads are usually solitary, with disks up to ¾” wide. Bracts are distinct in 2-3 almost equal series and are up to ⅓” or more high. There are 5-9 yellow rays that are up to almost ⅝” long. Pappus scales are ⅛” or more long and sharp pointed or short awned. The fruits are achenes that are about ⅛” long. Flowers bloom from May to July.


Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above and below: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Navajo Tea (Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum)

Above: © 2010 James M. Andre

Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Navajo Tea

Thelesperma subnudum A. Gray var. subnudum THSUS

Distribution and Habitat: Navajo Tea is found in mixed desert shrub, salt desert shrub, and pinyon-juniper communities at 3,500’-8,810’ but mainly below 7,000’ in Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne counties. It also occurs in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. General Information: Native American’s used plants of the Thelesperma genus for medicinal purposes in the past. Dry flowers and young leaves can be used to make a “spearmint” flavored tea from plants of this genus.

61

ASTERACEAE

Description: Navajo Tea, also called Scapose Greenthread, is a native, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems grow from a taproot or less commonly from a woody base and creeping rootstock and are 1”-14” tall and are almost scapose (leafless flower stalk growing from ground level). Leaves are mainly at the base of the stem, ⅝”-3½” long and pinnately or almost palmately lobed and some, or all of them, entire. Leaf stalks often have a fringe of hairs along the margins and blades are minutely hairy with short, fine hairs. The whorls of bracts below the flower clusters are up to almost ⅝” high and ⅞” wide. The outer bracts are oblong to lance-shaped with narrow membranous margins, to half as long as the inner bracts. The inner bracts are united to below the middle and with conspicuous thin, dry, membranous margins. Ray flowers are bright yellow, up to 1⅛” long and over ⅔” wide, or are lacking. Disk flowers are yellow. The pappus may be a toothed crown or may be lacking. Fruits are achenes. Flowering occurs from mid-April to August.


Silvery Townsendia (Townsendia incana)

Above: © Nevada Native Plant Society. Courtesy of Margaret Williams @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

All photos except above: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org


Silvery Townsendia TOIN

Townsendia incana Nutt.

Distribution and Habitat: Silvery Townsendia is found in blackbrush, salt desert shrub, sagebrush, and pinyon-juniper communities at 4,300’-9,200’ in Beaver, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne counties. It is also found in Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. General Information: Silvery Townsendia is the common Townsendia of the Colorado drainage system in Utah. It can be distinguished from its Great Basin counterpart T. jonesii by the white strigose stems and shorter ray pappus.

62

ASTERACEAE

Description: Silvery Townsendia, also called Hoary Townsendia and Easter-Daisy, is a native, perennial, herbaceous plant in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Plants are in dense tufts, with short stems or almost without stems, arising from an often-branched and spreading woody base located at the top of the root crown. Stems have conspicuously white, straight, stiff, sharp hairs pressed against them (strigose hairs). Stems are ¾”-2⅜” tall and form clumps up to 8” wide. Leaves are up to almost 1⅝” long and ±⅛” wide, spatula-shaped to inversely lance-shaped, and bear short, stiff, sharp hairs pressed against the leaf surface. Flower heads are solitary or few. The whorls of bracts beneath the flower heads are ¼”-½” high and ⅜”-¾” wide. Bracts are in 3-4 series, lance-shaped, green, with membranous margins, and with short, stiff, sharp hairs pressed against the surface. Flower heads have 13-34 rays. The petals are white underneath and pink to lavender on top, up to about ⅜” long and narrow. Fruits are achenes about ⅛” long and hairy with barbed hairs. The ray pappus is typically much shorter than the disk pappus. Flowering occurs from April into late summer.


Above: © 2009 Keir Morse, www. keiriosity.com

Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius)

Above: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiverity.org

Left: © 2006 Louis-M. Landry


Yellow Salsify

Tragopogon dubius Scopoli TRDU

Distribution and Habitat: Yellow Salsify is found along roadsides and on disturbed or heavily used sites at elevations from 4,500’-10,500’ in all Utah counties. It is widely distributed in the U.S. and native to Europe. General Information: Yellow Salsify, and Salsify or Oyster Plant (Tragopogon porrifolius), a purple-flowered species, were introduced to North America as root vegetables. The roots were said to taste like oysters when cooked. Yellow Salsify, although edible, tends to be strong flavored, fibrous, and bitter. Herbalists sometimes use the root to treat upset stomach.

63

ASTERACEAE

Description: Yellow Salsify, also called Goatsbeard or Western Salsify, is an introduced, annual or biennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems are erect, 12”-40” tall and simple or branched. Leaves are alternate, 2”-10” long, linear-awl shaped from an enlarged base, and have tufts of long, soft, tangled hairs becoming smooth and hairless. Flower stalks (peduncles) are enlarged and tubular below the flower heads. The whorl of bracts below the flower heads is cylinder-shaped to bell-shaped. There are usually 11-13 bracts per flower head or 8 on later heads. Bracts are 1”-1½” long or more at flowering and 1½”-2¾” long when in fruit. Ray flowers are pale lemon yellow (sometimes fading blue or purple) and shorter than the bracts. Flowering occurs from June through August. Fruits are achenes that are tipped with a whitish to tawny tuft of hairs (pappus) at the base and are about 1”-1⅜” long or more.


Mulesears (Wyethia amplexicaulis)

Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Left and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Rough Mulesears (Scabrethia scabra ssp. scabra) Left and right: Š Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Left: Š Al Schneider, www. swcoloradowildflowers.com


Mulesears

Wyethia spp. Nutt. Scabrethia spp. W.A. Weber

WYETH; SCABR

Distribution and Habitat: Mulesears is found in sagebrush, oak, pinyon-juniper, aspen-fir, and grass-forb communities at 5,000’-9,500’ in Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties. Rough Mulesears is practically always found in sand in blackbrush, ephedra and other mixed desert shrub, oak, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities at 4,000’- 8,600’ in Carbon, Daggett Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, and Washington counties. General Information: Mulesears is generally ungrazed by animals and found in meadows and aspen parkland. It was named for Nathan J. Wyeth who collected it on a western expedition in 1834. Rough Mulesears is also generally ungrazed by animals. It is a botanical motif for Coral Pink Sand Dunes in Kane County. Species Referenced: S. scabra (Hook.) W.A. Weber ssp. scabra - Rough Mulesears SCSCS5 W. amplexicaulis (Nutt.) Nutt. – Mulesears WYAM 64

ASTERACEAE

Description: Mulesears and Rough (or Badlands) Mulesears are native, perennial forbs. Mulesears is a robust herbaceous plant with stems 2’-3’ tall and with glabrous, petiolate basal leaves 5”-16” long and 1”-6” wide, entire or dentate, and resinous. Leaves along stems (cauline) are small, rounded, clasping, and without stalks. Flower heads are composed of golden-yellow rays and discs, and are ±4” in diameter. Mulesears is strongly aromatic. Rough Mulesears (formerly named Wyethia scabra) are robust, clump-forming plants with several to many stems 6”->24” tall that are scabrous with minute stiff hairs. Leaves are mainly cauline (attached to stems), 1”-6” long and up to ⅔” wide, elliptical to oblong or linear, and scabrous. Flower heads are yellow with 10-23 rays, few or solitary, and located at the tips of stems or branches.


Left: © Alan J. Hahn

Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Cisco Woodyaster (Xylorhiza venusta)

Left and below: © Alan J. Hahn

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Cisco Woodyaster

Xylorhiza venusta (M.E. Jones) A. Heller XYVE

Distribution and Habitat: Cisco Woodyaster is a Colorado Plateau endemic found in salt desert shrub communities on saline, fine-textured, selenium-bearing soils of Mancos Shale and Morrison formations at 4,100’-6,500’ in Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, San Juan, Uintah, and Wayne counties. General Information: Cisco Woodyaster is said to “carpet the desert” in some years.

65

ASTERACEAE

Description: Cisco Woodyaster, also called Charming Woodyaster or Poison-Aster, is a somewhat woody, native, perennial herb in the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). Stems grow from a woody base and taproot and are 4”-20” tall, smooth to densely hairy and leafy mainly on the lower half. Leaves are mainly 1”-3½” long and up to ⅔” wide, inversely lance-shaped to spatula-shaped, almost smooth to having long, soft, shaggy but unmatted hairs, and gradually tapering to a narrow base. Flower heads are borne on stems (peduncles) 2”-7⅞” long. The whorls of bracts below the flower heads are ⅜”-⅔” or more high and ⅔” -1½” wide. The bracts are lance-shaped tapering to narrow or tail-like pointed tips, herbaceous above, and thin, dry, and membranous below. Flower heads have 12-36 white or bluish to purplish rays that are ½”1” long or longer. Fruits are achenes with silky hairs that are pressed somewhat flat and with pappus bristles up to ⅜” long. Flowering occurs from April into June.


Yellow Cryptanth (Cryptantha flava)

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Dwarf Cryptanth (Cryptantha humilus)

All Dwarf Cryptanth Photos: © 2006 Steve Matson


Cryptanth

Description: Cryptanths are annual or perennial herbaceous plants, or small and somewhat shrubby plants. The two species presented here are perennial herbs. Yellow Cryptanth is 5⅛”-15¾” tall with many stems growing from multiple woody bases and Dwarf Cryptanth is 2”-12” tall with many stems arising from the ends of a branched woody base. Stems of both are strigose (with straight, stiff, sharp, appressed hairs) to spreading setose (bristly). Yellow Cryptanth leaves are narrowly inversely lance-shaped to nearly linear, pointed, ¾”-3½” long and up to ⅓” wide. Leaf blades are strigose, and with small blisters on top and underneath. Dwarf Cryptanth leaves are inversely lance-shaped to spatula-shaped, strigose, setose or almost tomentose (with short, soft, wooly, matted hairs). The inflorescences of both are narrowly cylindrical to somewhat open and lax and conspicuously yellow-bristly in Yellow Cryptanth. Sepals are linear to linear-lance-shaped and the corollas (petals) are yellow or white in Yellow and Dwarf Cryptanth respectively. Fruits are lance-shaped to egg-lance-shaped nutlets. Distribution and Habitat: Yellow and Dwarf Cryptanths are found in mixed desert shrub, salt desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and mountain brush communities at 4,200’-8,550.’ Yellow Cryptanth is documented to occur in Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Sevier, Uintah, and Wayne counties. Dwarf Cryptanth is found in all Utah counties except Daggett, Rich, Summit, and Wasatch. General Information: Cryptantha species account for a large part of the desert flora of Utah. Yellow Cryptanth is one of two yellow-flowered Cryptantha species in Utah. There are numerous white-flowered Cryptantha species other than Dwarf Cryptanth in Utah. Species Referenced: C. flava (A. Nelson) Payson – Yellow Cryptanth CRFL5 C. humilis (A. Gray) Payson – Dwarf Cryptanth CRHU2 66

BORAGINACEAE

CRYPT

Cryptantha spp. Lehm. ex G. Don


Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale)

Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Left: Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity. org

Above & below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State Univ. Above: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood. org


Houndstongue

Cynoglossum officinale L. Description: Houndstongue is a biennial plant in the Borage Family (Boraginaceae) that was introduced from Europe. It forms a rosette the first year and sends up a flower stalk the second. It is a stout, erect plant 1’-4’ tall, and covered with short to long hairs throughout. Stems are leafy to the top. Leaves are rough, alternate, and entire with lower leaves oblong to oblong-lance-shaped on a slender stalk, and 6”-12” long and 1”-2½” wide. Upper leaves are entire, lance-shaped, pointed at the tip, and sessile or the upper ones mostly clasping. The 10-35 flowers are borne in an unbranched, elongated inflorescence with individual flowers on stalks blooming progressively from the bottom to the top. The fused flower petals (corollas) are reddish purple. Houndstongue flowers in May and June and reproduces by seed. Seeds are contained in four-lobed, prickly nutlets that attach to clothing and animal hair and are transported only to break open and scatter seeds at a later time. Individual plants may produce up to 2,000 seeds. Distribution and Habitat: Houndstongue occurs along roadsides and in disturbed areas in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, cottonwood, mountain brush, aspen, ponderosa pine, and spruce-fir communities at 3,300’-9,800’ elevation. It has been collected and reported to occur in all Utah counties except Daggett, Grand, San Juan, Iron, Piute, Wayne, Garfield, and Kane. General Information: Houndstongue contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids in significant enough levels to be highly toxic. It is more toxic to cattle and horses than to sheep. It is generally not grazed readily when green but can become a problem when it has been harvested and fed in hay.

67

BORAGINACEAE

CYOF


Left and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Š 2002 Larry Blakely

Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Western Stoneseed Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

(Lithospermum ruderale)


Western Stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale Douglas ex Lehm.

Description: Western Stoneseed, also called Contra Stoneseed, is a native, perennial forb in the Borage Family (Boraginaceae). Plants have several stout stems from a large root, are erect or lying on the ground with an ascending tip, and are 8”-20” tall. Stems are simple or branched, hairy with coarse, stiff hairs, and are fairly rough to densely covered with long, soft, shaggy, and unmatted hairs. Leaves are numerous and usually crowded upward toward the end of the stem, mostly with tips curved upward or some curved back. Leaves are linear-lance-shaped to lanceshaped, about 1”-3⅛” long and up to ½” wide, softly to rather harshly hairy on both sides, and rough along the margins. Flowers are borne in the leaf axils of the upper leaves. Flower pedicels are short and stout. Calyx lobes in the fruit are awl-shaped and up to about ⅜” long. The corolla is pale, often greenish-yellow and about ½” long. Flowering occurs in late spring. The fruits are smooth, polished, whitish nutlets that are broadly egg-shaped, about ¼” long, and usually abruptly tapering to a narrow tip or beak. Distribution and Habitat: Western Stoneseed is found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, aspen, and Douglas fir communities at 5,650’-9,200’ and has been collected and reported in all Utah counties except Carbon, Garfield, Kane, and Wayne. It is found from British Columbia and Alberta to California, Nevada, and Colorado. General Information: A tea made from Lithospermum species was commonly used as a contraceptive that produced results that ranged from temporary to permanent sterility. Teas made from the root were taken to stop internal bleeding and to improve appetite. They were also used as washes for treating skin and eye problems and rheumatism. It is reported to affect hormone levels and glands in the endocrine system and taking it internally is adamantly discouraged. 68

BORAGINACEAE

LIRU4


Below: Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University

Aspen Bluebell (Mertensia arizonica)

Left and above: Dr. John T. Lonsdale, Edgewood Gardens, Exton, PA

Mountain Bluebell (Mertensia ciliata) Left: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Above: Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org Left: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org


Bluebells

Mertensia spp. Roth Description: Bluebells are perennial, native, herbs in the Borage Family. Aspen Bluebell, also known as Tall Bluebell, is 1’-3’ tall, erect to ascending, and with one to several stems. Mountain Bluebell is many-stemmed and erect or ascending to as much as 4’ tall. Aspen Bluebell basal leaves are narrowly to broadly egg-shaped to oblong-lance-shaped, and up to 6’ long and 2” wide. Leaves along the lower stems are usually petiolate and spatulate to oval while upper stem leaves are usually sessile, oval to narrowly egg-shaped, pointed, 1”-5” long and up to 2” wide. Mountain Bluebell basal leaves vary from oblong to egg- or lance-shaped or almost heart-shaped, 1”-6” long, 1”-4” wide, and on petioles. Cauline leaves are sessile and lance-shaped to pointed or rounded at the tips, becoming almost heart-shaped and with petioles at the base. Flower heads for both species are composed of multiple flowers on individual branches arising from the axils of the main branch of the inflorescence. Distribution and Habitat: Aspen Bluebell occurs in moist canyons, along streams, moist meadows in pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 6,240’-11,050’ in all Utah counties except Daggett, Rich, Uintah, and Wayne. Mountain Bluebell occurs in mountain brush, aspen, conifer communities, and alpine tundra at 6,600’13,160’ in Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Grand, Iron, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Summit, Wasatch, and Weber. General Information: Both Bluebell species are preferred forage for wildlife and livestock. Mountain Bluebell is reported to have been used to increase milk production in nursing mothers by Cheyenne Indians. Species referenced: M. arizonica E.L. Greene – Aspen Bluebell MEAR6 M. ciliata (James) G. Don – Mountain Bluebell MECI3 69

BORAGINACEAE

MERTE


Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Above: Š 2007 Luigi Rignanese

Whitetop (Cardaria draba) Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Right: Š 2007 Luigi Rignanese


Whitetop

Cardaria draba (L.) Desv Description: Whitetop, also called Hoary Cress, is a strongly rhizomatous, introduced, perennial herb, in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). Stems are decumbent to ascending or erect, 6”-24” tall, minutely soft hairy to hairy with simple, small, stiff, coarse, backward hairs. Leaves are elliptic to oblong, egg-shaped, or inversely lance-shaped, up to 3⅞” long, and up to ⅜” wide. Leaf margins are toothed in a wavy fashion or irregularly toothed. The lower leaves are on petioles and upper leaves are attached directly to the stems, have auricles, and are minutely soft hairy to coarse hairy with backward facing simple hairs. Flowers are in clustered elongated inflorescences. Flower pedicels are spreading and curved upward. Flowers have 4 sepals and 4 white petals that are broadly spatula-shaped. Fruits are silicles that are broader than long and smooth. Flowering occurs from May through July. Distribution and Habitat: Although it is naturalized now, Whitetop originated in Eurasia. It is common on alkaline soils and is found in cultivated fields, along roadsides and rights-of-way, in flood plains, and in disturbed areas. It is widely established throughout the United States and Canada. In Utah it is found at 4,200’-8,800’ and has been reported in Beaver, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Iron, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Utah, Washington, Wayne, and Weber counties. General Information: Whitetop is highly competitive with other species once established. It is listed as a noxious weed in Utah and at least 12 other states. It is difficult to control or eradicate.

70

BRASSICACEAE

CADR


Below: Š Gary Monroe @ USDANRCS PLANTS Database

Sanddune Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum)

Above, left, and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Left: William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org


Sanddune Wallflower Erysimum capitatum (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene

Description: Sanddune Wallflower, also called Wallflower or Western Wallflower, is a native, biennial or short-lived perennial herb that is a member of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). It grows from a simple but sometimes branched woody base. The stems are unbranched and may be up to 36” tall. Flowering occurs from March to October. The plant has basal leaves and stem (cauline) leaves. The basal leaves are up to 5” long and ½” or more wide, are almost linear to elliptic or spatula-shaped, are entire or with very small teeth, are grayish to green, and are covered with straight hairs attached at the middle or Y-shaped appressed hairs. The cauline leaves are up to 4” long and ⅝” wide and may be reduced or not reduced in size upward, variously shaped, entire or toothed, and hairy like the basal leaves. Flowers are borne on pedicels up to ⅔” long that are curved upward, in unbranched, spikelike inflorescences (racemes), and without bracts. The racemes are elongated when in fruit. The 4 sepals are yellowish or purple and ½” or more long. The 4 petals are yellow to yellow orange or burnt-orange and up to almost 1⅛” long. The fruits are siliques. Flowering may occur from April to September depending on the life zone where it grows. Distribution and Habitat: Sanddune Wallflower occurs in warm desert shrub, cool desert shrub, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, aspen, Douglas fir, and spruce-fir to alpine tundra communities at 2,490’-12,467’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Sanddune Wallflower has perhaps the most extensive ecological amplitude of the plant species in Utah. A similar species, Western Wallflower (Erysimum asperum), occurs along the eastern side of Utah.

71

BRASSICACEAE

ERCA14


Left: Š 2010 Louis-M. Landry

Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above, left, & below: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Dyer’s Woad (Isatis tinctoria)

Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Left: Steve Dewey, Utah State Univ., Bugwood.org


Dyer’s Woad Isatis tinctoria L.

Description: Dyer’s Woad is an introduced, biennial or short-lived perennial plant in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). Stems are erect, 3⅛”-40” tall or more, and smooth or with long simple hairs at the base. Basal leaves are 1⅜”-6” long, up to 1⅝” wide, inversely lance-shaped to elliptic, entire to having small, rounded teeth, and having long, soft, simple hairs on the surface or along the margins. Cauline leaves have auricles, are smaller toward the upper ends of the stems, lance-shaped to elliptic, entire, arrowhead-shaped with the lower lobes turned outward, and smooth or with soft, long hairs on the underside veins and on the margins. Plants have numerous flowers on pedicels that are up to ⅓” long, bent backwards, and smooth. Flowers have 4 sepals that are short, yellowish, and smooth. Flowers have 4 petals that are ⅛” long or more, yellow, spatula-shaped, and rounded. Fruits are dark brown silicles up to almost ¾” long that are wedge- oblong-shaped to inversely lanceshaped, more or less bluntly rounded at the tip, and smooth. Distribution and Habitat: Dyer’s Woad is found along roadsides, in abandoned fields, and dry foothills in bunchgrass, sagebrush, and mountain brush communities at 4,300’-8,700’ in Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Grand, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, and Weber counties. General Information: Dyer’s Woad was introduced into the U.S. from Europe in colonial times. It is the source for a blue dye and was widely cultivated in the recent past. It is invasive on disturbed and undisturbed areas and classified as a noxious weed in 11 western states including Utah. A native rust, Puccinia thlaspeos, can significantly reduce Dyer’s Woad seed production and may have potential as a biological control agent.

72

BRASSICACEAE

ISTI


Left and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) Right: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Below: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Above: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, Univ. of Connecticut Bugwood.org

Pedro TenorioLezama, Bugwood.org


Perennial Pepperweed Lepidium latifolium L.

Description: Perennial Pepperweed, also called Tall Whitetop, is an introduced, perennial forb in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae), spreading from deep-seated rootstocks. Glabrous stems are 2½’-5’ tall or more. Leaves arise from the base and from along the stems (cauline). Basal leaves are petiolate, circular to obovate (attached at the narrow end), elliptic, or lance-shaped, and typically absent by flowering. The cauline leaves are borne on petioles on the lower stems becoming sessile upward but without auricles. They are entire or with irregularly rounded-toothed or serrated margins. There are bracts up to ≈1” long below the branches of the raceme inflorescence. Flower pedicels are <⅛” long and support flowers with 4 smooth or minutely hairy sepals that are tinged with blue or purple, and 4 white, obovate petals. Flowering occurs May through September. Distribution and Habitat: Perennial Pepperweed occurs in riparian and palustrine habitats, in drier sites such as borrow pits along roadsides and other disturbed areas. It is found at elevations from 4,100’-8,200’ in Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Duchesne, Grand, Iron, Juab, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. It is widespread across the United States and Canada. It was introduced from Eurasia. General Information: Perennial Pepperweed spreads aggressively and is listed as a noxious weed in Utah and 12 other western states, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. It is difficult to control due to the deep-seated rootstock.

73

BRASSICACEAE

LELA2


Mountain Pepperweed (Lepidium montanum)

Above: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org Left: © Alan J. Hahn

© 2008 Steve Matson

© Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com


Mountain Pepperweed Lepidium montanum Nutt.

Description: Mountain Pepperweed, also called Mountain Pepperplant or Mountain Peppergrass, is a native, perennial or biennial forb in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). It is occasionally shrub-like and definitely woody above the base. The stems are 1”-47” or more tall, smooth or with short, fine hairs to short, coarse hairs. Leaves are basal or both basal and cauline <¼”-5” long and up to 1” wide, variously shaped, entire to pinnately compound. The uppermost stem leaves are often simple and entire. There are bracts below the inflorescence branches that are usually 1” long or less. Flower pedicels are ⅛”-⅓” long, spreading or directed upward, straight, or more or less sigmoid-curved, smooth or with short, fine hairs. Sepals are small, green or tinged various colors, and smooth or with short, fine hairs. Flowers have 4 petals ±⅓” long, white, and inversely egg-shaped to spatula-shaped. Flowers typically have 6 stamens. Fruits are egg-shaped to elliptic silicles that are smooth or rarely with short, fine hairs. Flowering occurs May through September. Distribution and Habitat: Mountain Pepperweed is highly variable and is found in salt desert shrub, warm desert shrub, cool desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, aspen, white fir, spruce-fir, and bristlecone pine communities at elevations from 2,700’-10,000’ in all Utah counties except Davis, Morgan, and Weber. It also is found from Montana, Idaho, and Oregon south to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. General Information: There are 9 recognized varieties of Mountain Pepperweed in Utah. This explains to some degree the range in plant communities and life zones where it is found.

74

BRASSICACEAE

LEMO2


© Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Below: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

© 2005 James M. Andre

Above: © 2011 Steve Matson Larry D. Ellicott, Gilbert, AZ

Prince’s Plume (Stanleya pinnata)

© 2011 Steve Matson


Prince’s Plume

Stanleya pinnata (Pursh) Britton Description: Prince’s Plume is a native, forb or subshrub in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). It grows from a well developed and slightly to very woody caudex (woody base). Stems are simple or branched, 14”-47” or taller, smooth to bearing long, soft, straight hairs, and covered with a whitish or bluish waxy coating (glaucous). Leaves are mainly 2”-7” long and 1”-2” or wider, lance-shaped or narrowly oval in outline, and pinnately cleft or lobed half way or more to the midrib. The upper leaves are usually entire and narrowly lance-shaped to narrowly oval, without auricles, and smooth (glabrous) or sparsely bearing long, soft, straight hairs. The spike inflorescence covers much of the long stems with flowers blooming first from the bottom of the cluster and advancing to the top (indeterminate). Individual flower are borne on pedicels up to ½” long and spreading. Sepals are <⅞” long, yellow, bent backward, and glabrous. Flowers have 4 flower petals that are up to ⅔” long and yellow. Stamens are yellow and extend beyond the petals. Flowering occurs from April to November. The dehiscent, 2-valved fruits are called siliques, which are 1⅓”-3⅛” long, very narrow, and almost round to flattened. The stem (stipe) on the silique is about ½”1” long. Distribution and Habitat: Prince’s Plume is found in selenium-rich soils in many geological formations – Moenkopi, Chinle, Carmel, Entrada, Curtis, Summerville, Morrison, Mancos, and others. It occurs in salt desert shrub, mixed desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and mountain brush communities at elevations from 3,000’-7,500’ in all Utah counties except Cache, Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Wasatch, and Weber. General Information: Prince’s Plume is a selenium accumulating plant. It is toxic to livestock although it is rarely eaten. Selenium poisoning has been associated with 2 disease syndromes referred to as alkali disease and blind staggers. 75

BRASSICACEAE

STPI


Above, below and right: © 2005 Steve Matson

Right: © 2005 James M. Andre

African Mustard (Malcolmia africana)

Blue Mustard (Chorispora tenella) Left top & inset: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.com

Left and above: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.com


Annual Blue Mustards Chorispora spp. R. Br. ex DC. Malcolmia spp. W.T. Aiton

Description: Two of the annual mustards that are introduced species and common in Utah are African Mustard and Blue Mustard. Blue Mustard is also called Crossflower, or Musk Mustard. They are in different genera but are members of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). They have flowers with 4 petals and produce 2-part fruits (siliques) that readily open when ripe. African Mustard grows from taproots and is hairy with forked or 3-rayed hairs. Basal leaves are simple and wavy-toothed. Stem leaves are alternate and may or may not have stalks (petioles). Pink to lavender flowers are borne in racemes of pediceled flowers. Blue Mustard is very similar in appearance to African Mustard but has spherical hairs, conspicuously beaked fruits, and a distinctive musky odor. Fruits (siliques) are club-shaped or linear and <¾” long. Distribution and Habitat: These two annual mustards are found in disturbed areas in many plant communities at elevations to 8,800’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Annual mustards are generally considered to be weeds. Species Referenced: C. tenella (Pallas) DC. - Blue Mustard CHTE2 M. africana (L.) W.T. Aiton - African Mustard MAAF

76

BRASSICACEAE

CHORI; MALCO


Below and right: © Al Schneider. www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Below: © 2010 Steve Matson

Tansymustard (Descurainia pinnata)

Tumblemustard (Sisymbrium altissimum)

© 2008 Steve Matson

Above: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Annual Yellow Mustards Descurainia spp. Webb & Bethel. Sisymbrium spp. L.

Description: Two of the annual mustards that have yellow flowers and that are common in Utah are Tumblemustard and Western Tansymustard. They are in different genera but are members of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae). Western Tansymustard is native to Utah and North America. Plants in the Mustard Family have flowers with 4 petals and produce 2-part fruits (siliques) that readily open when ripe. Tumblemustard stems are tall (to 5’), simple below and branched above. Lower leaves are alternate, coarse, and lobed. Upper leaves are much smaller and finer with narrow lobes. Flowers are small and pale yellow. Western Tansymustard stems are tall (to 32”), simple or highly branched with star-shaped hairs and often with stalked glands. Leaves are 2-3 times pinnately compound. Flowers are very small and yellow or greenish yellow. Fruits (siliques) are club-shaped or linear and <¾” long. Distribution and Habitat: These annual mustards are found in disturbed areas in many plant communities at elevations to 9,000’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Annual mustards are generally considered to be weeds. Western Tansymustard is reported to cause liver disease and photosensitization in cattle. Tumblemustard has become widespread in Utah and contributes greatly to fine fuel loads and wildfire risk. Species Referenced: D. pinnata (Walter) Britton – Western Tansymustard DEPI S. altissimum L. – Tumblemustard SIAL2

77

BRASSICACEAE

DESCU; SISYM


Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Left and above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: © 2007 Louis-M. Landry

American Bellflower (Campanula rotundifolia) © 2006 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

© 2006 Louis-M. Landry


American Bellflower Campanula rotundifolia L.

CARO2

Distribution and Habitat: American Bellflower is adapted to full to partial sunlight and found in lower elevation meadows to high subalpine regions in ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, spruce-fir, and alpine tundra communities at 5,000’12,000.’ It is common in the Uinta Mountains in Daggett, Duchesne, Summit, Uintah, and Wasatch counties. General Information: Roots of American Bellflower are edible, if boiled, and are reported to have a pleasant, nutlike flavor. A leaf tea was used by American Indians to remedy tuberculosis and whooping cough.

78

CAMPANULACEAE

Description: American Bellflower, also called Blue Bellflower, is a native (circumboreal), perennial herb and member of the Bellflower Family (Campanulaceae). Plants have erect, branching stems that grow up to 4’ tall with terminal blossoms on each. Leaves are alternate with basal leaves round to heart-shaped and upper leaves nearly linear. Flowers are solitary or in racemes, blue or occasionally white, and drooping or horizontal. Plants bloom in July and August. American Bellflower spreads readily by rhizomes.


Yellow Beeplant (Cleome lutea)

Right: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Above and right: © 2010 Steve Matson

Rocky Mountain Beeplant (Cleome serrulata)

Left and above: © 2001 Larry Blakely

Above: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org


Beeplant

Cleome spp. L. CLEOM Description: Rocky Mountain Beeplant and Yellow Beeplant are annual herbs and members of the Caper Family (Capparaceae). Rocky Mountain Beeplant has pink to purple flowers borne in racemes, stems 30”-40” tall, and palmately compound leaves with 3 leaflets. Yellow Beeplant has yellow flowers borne in racemes, stems 15”-20” tall, and palmately compound leaves with 5 leaflets. Both are erect plants with simple or branched stems.

General Information: Both Rocky Mountain and Yellow Beeplant have an offensive odor but the smell is said to disappear with cooking. Young shoots and leaves of both species were important food plants to Native Americans as potherbs. Cooked plants were boiled and pressed into balls and dried for later use in soups or stews. Young plants were also used for making a black dye or paint for decorating pottery or other items. Rocky Mountain Beeplant was used by Navajo weavers in dying wool a yellowgreen color. Plant parts were used as medicinal teas, poultices, deodorants, and in ceremonies. Yellow Beeplant is reported to be an indicator of selenium in the soil. Species Referenced: C. lutea Hooker – Yellow Beeplant CLLU2 C. serrulata Pursh. - Rocky Mountain Beeplant CLSE 79

CAPPARACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Both Rocky Mountain and Yellow Beeplant occur on disturbed sites along roadsides and stream courses in fairly moist valley or open habitats. Rocky Mountain Beeplant is found on sandy soils in many habitats from 3,000’-8,900’ elevation. Yellow Beeplant is found in warm, salt, and mixed desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities from 3,000’-7,500’ elevation. Rocky Mountain Beeplant is found in all Utah counties and Yellow Beeplant is reported to occur in all Utah counties except Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Morgan, Rich, Sanpete, and Summit.


Left: Š 2010 Trent M. Draper

Palmer’s Cleomella (Cleomella palmeriana)

Remaining Photos: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Palmer’s Cleomella

Cleomella palmeriana M.E. Jones CLPA3 Description: Palmer’s Cleomella is an annual herb and member of the Caper Family (Capparaceae). The plant is smooth (glabrous) and has erect, widely branching red-tinged stems 2⅓”-14” tall. Palmer’s Cleomella has alternate, 3-foliate leaves with leaflets that are ⅓”-⅝” long and <⅓” wide. Leaflets are narrowly oval-shaped to oblong or lance-oblong. It has an unbranched, elongated and many-flowered flower cluster. Flowers are yellow and arranged on short branches off the main inflorescence stem. Fruits are 2-valved capsules that are obtuse at the tip, sharply triangular at the base, <¼” long and ⅓” or more wide, and contain few to several seeds.

General Information: Palmer’s Cleomella is an endemic plant of the Colorado Plateau. It flowers in spring and in wet years it can be abundant covering the usually gray, barren soils with yellow flowers. It is reported to be malodorous.

80

CAPPARACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Palmer’s Cleomella is found in the salt desert shrub communities on Mancos Shale, Tropic Shale and Morrison formations at 3,965’-5,950’ elevation in Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, and Wayne counties in Utah and in Colorado.


Left: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Above: © 2011 Steve Matson

James’ Chickweed (Pseudostellaria jamesiana)

Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Left and above: © 2011 Steve Matson


Pseudostellaria jamesiana (Torr.) W.A. Weber & R.L. Hartman PSJA2 Description: James’ Chickweed, also known as Tuber Starwort, is a native, perennial, rhizomatous plant and a member of the Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae). Roots are thick and fleshy. Stems are mainly 4”-24” long and usually reclining on the ground (decumbent) with the tips rising (ascending). They are 4-sided, smooth below but covered with glandtipped hairs above. Nodes are swollen. Leaves are attached directly to the stem and measure up to 5” long. The blades are covered with gland-tipped hairs and are narrow, long, opposite, and ridged. James’ Chickweed has several to many flowers contained in bunches (cymes) found at stem ends and in leaf axils. The small, bright white flowers have 5 petals, which are notched up to ⅓ of their length and are roughly triangular in outline. The petals are about twice as long as the sepals and have gland-tipped hairs. The flower contains 10 stamens, and a single pistil with 3 style branches. James’ Chickweed flowers from May to July. Distribution and Habitat: James’ Chickweed is usually found in moist, shaded areas, being common along streams and among shrubs. It can also be found on open, rocky slopes. It is common in mountain brush, sagebrush, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir-white fir, bristlecone pine, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 5,950’-10, 500’ and found in all Utah counties, the 11 contiguous western states, and in Texas. General Information: The flowers are cropped by grazing animals. The starchy, tuberous rootstocks are edible, tasting somewhat like sweet potato. They were an important food source among Native Americans.

81

CARYOPHYLLACEAE

James’ Chickweed


Green Molly (Bassia americana)

Top center and above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com Above and right: © Gary A Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Green Molly

Bassia americana (S. Wats.) A.J. Scott Description: Green Molly is a member of the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae). It is a native, long lived, semi-evergreen half shrub with erect branches from a woody base. Green Molly may reach ±15” in height at maturity or twice this height on high potential sites and under favorable growing conditions. Stems and leaves may be smooth to hairy. Leaves are linear, semi-cylindrical, fleshy, and up to 1” long and narrow. Flowers are inconspicuous, solitary or 2-5, sessile in the axils of slightly reduced leaves. Inflorescences are often more than half of the length of branches. Fruits are keeled at the tip with a small membranous wing. New growth, especially leaves, may turn black when dry. Distribution and Habitat: Green Molly is adapted to desert and semidesert ecological sites (>5” annual precipitation) with coarse to medium textured soils. It exhibits high tolerance to salinity and alkalinity. Green Molly is found with greasewood, seepweed, saltbushes, horsebrush, saltgrass, and in pinyon-juniper communities at 3,650’ to 6,450’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Millard, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, and Wayne counties. General Information: Green Molly is an important component of salt desert shrub communities. It is a desired forage species preferred by sheep, cattle, jackrabbits, and other desert wildlife.

82

CHENOPODIACEAE

BAAM4


Left: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left and above: Š Hermann Falkner

Left: Š Hermann Falkner

Forage Kochia (Bassia prostrata)

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Forage Kochia

Bassia prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott Description: Forage Kochia is a member of the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae). The previous scientific name of Kochia prostrata was recently changed to Bassia prostrata. It is an introduced species similar in appearance and habitat adaptation to Green Molly (Bassia americana). Both Forage Kochia and Green Molly are long lived, semi-evergreen half shrubs. Forage Kochia averages ±24” tall at maturity while Green Molly averages ±15” tall but may grow taller under favorable growing conditions. Flowers are inconspicuous. Distribution and Habitat: Forage Kochia is adapted to desert and semidesert sites (>5” annual precipitation), and coarse to medium textured soils at elevations ranging from <4,000’-5,000’ in most Utah counties. It exhibits high tolerance to salinity and alkalinity. General Information: Forage Kochia provides forage for livestock and wildlife. It is resistant to fire and competes well with invasive species such as Cheatgrass. It is commonly planted in firebreaks and used in reclamation of desert and semidesert areas. Seed is harvested in late fall or early winter and the length of time that it remains viable is short unless it is stored under refrigeration. Seeds are small and broadcast seeding in winter is recognized as key to successful plantings.

83

CHENOPODIACEAE

BAPR5


Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Annual Kochia (Bassia scoparia)

Left: Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Š Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Annual Kochia

Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott Description: Annual Kochia, also called Summercypress, is a member of the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae). Annual kochia was introduced from Eurasia. It is an erect, annual forb that may reach 60” tall depending on moisture availability. Stems are green, red tinged, or red depending on maturity. It has simple, alternate leaves that are up to 2” long and linear to narrowly ovate. Leaves may be sessile or have short petioles and are sometimes hairy. Annual Kochia has a spike inflorescence and flowers are leaf-like bracts and inconspicuous. Fruits are small and oval in shape and brown or black in color. Plants often turn reddish in color at maturity. Distribution and Habitat: Annual Kochia is not tolerant of salinity and alkalinity and is often found along field margins, roadsides, canal banks, and disturbed mesic areas (>10” moisture annually). It is found at 2,760’-7,800’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Annual Kochia is invasive on disturbed sites and considered a weed in agronomic crops. It provides nutritious forage for livestock but is known to cause photosensitization, and nitrate poisoning as well when stressed plants (for example drought, frost) are consumed. Toxic substances in annual kochia include saponins, alkaloids, nitrates, and oxalates.

84

CHENOPODIACEAE

BASC5


Left: © 2005 Louis-M. Landry

Left and right: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Lambsquarter (Chenopodium album)

Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

© 2005 Louis-M. Landry

Above: © 2005 Luigi Rignanese


Lambsquarter

Chenopodium album (L.) Description: Lambsquarter is an introduced annual plant in the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae). Stems are erect, red-striated, 4”-40” tall or taller, and simple or branched. Lambsquarter foliage is covered with a white mealy, powdery substance more or less, at least when plants are young. Leaves are borne on stalks (petioles), leaf blades are ⅜”-2½” long, and <¼”-2¼” wide. Leaves are egg-shaped to diamond-egg-shaped to lance-shaped, with wavy to toothed margins. The upper leaves can be entire. Flowers are in dense clusters that are arranged in spikes in the upper leaf axils of the stem. The calyx (collective term for all sepals) has keeled lobes enclosing the fruit. Seeds are smooth or faintly striated and black. Multiple cohorts of Lambsquarter are common through the summer as moisture becomes available. Distribution and Habitat: Lambsquarter is found in cultivated fields, gardens, and disturbed sites at 2,800’-7,400’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Lambsquarter is highly competitive and considered a weed in many circles. It is also considered to be one of the most nutritious and best tasting wild greens said to taste much like spinach. Although it is best when young and tender, the leaves are enjoyable through most of the growing season.

85

CHENOPODIACEAE

CHAL7


Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Š 2010 Steve Matson

Below: Bonnie Million, National Park Service, Bugwood.org

Left: Clinton Shock, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org

Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus)

Left: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Halogeton

Halogeton glomeratus (M. Bieb.) V.A. Mey Description: Halogeton is a warm-season summer annual plant in the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae). Stems are red and branch from the base, spread, and then become erect. Foliage is blue-green when immature, turning red or yellow by late summer. Leaves are cylindrical and fleshy when immature, ⅛”-⅝” long and <⅛” thick, and round with a slender spine which falls off at the tip. The flowers are borne in the leaf axils and are membranous and fan-like with wings. Seed developed before August has a short period after ripening before becoming viable for about a year. Seed developed after mid-August is generally dormant and may remain viable for up to 10 years. Distribution and Habitat: Halogeton is a salt-tolerant annual that was introduced from Eurasia in the early 20th century. It thrives on saline soils common in western valleys and is now widely distributed throughout the Western United States. Halogeton is found mainly on disturbed sites in cheatgrass, Russian thistle, salt desert shrub, sagebrush, greasewood, and pinyonjuniper communities at elevations from 4,000’-6,500’ in all Utah counties except Cache, Davis, Morgan, Rich, and Summit. General Information: Halogeton contains sodium oxalate and is known for poisoning livestock. Oxalates precipitate calcium from the blood, form crystals that damage the kidneys and rumen, and inhibit enzymes needed in energy metabolism. Large numbers of sheep have been killed by Halogeton poisoning since it was unintentionally introduced in Nevada in the 1930s. Losses generally occur in fall, winter, and spring when hungry animals are exposed to stands of Halogeton following trailing or trucking.

86

CHENOPODIACEAE

HAGL


Annual Samphire (Salicornia rubra)

Above and below: © 2009 Robert Sivinski

Below center: © 2011 Robert Sivinski

Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left and right: © 2007 Trent M. Draper


Annual Samphire Salicornia rubra A. Nelson

Description: Annual Samphire, also called Red Swampfire, is a native, annual herbaceous plant in the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae). It is generally 3½”-12” tall growing from a slender taproot. Stems are fleshy, erect or ascending, usually branched, and often red at maturity. Leaves are scale-like with thin, dry, membranous margins. It has terminal spikes on each stem that are up to 2” long, thin, and short-jointed. Foliage and flowers are green. Flowers are inconspicuous, perfect, sessile, and arranged in groups of 3 above scale-like bracts, and sunken into depressions of the thickened terminal spikes. The central flower is much elevated above the lateral flowers. Flowering occurs from July into September. Fruits are dehiscent with the seeds falling separately. Seeds are yellow and hairy with hairs bent backwards. Distribution and Habitat: Annual Samphire is a wetland obligate plant. It is found on saline, typically fine-textured soils in salt marsh, seepweed, poverty weed, alkali sacaton, and saltgrass communities at 4,200’-4,800’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Juab, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, Tooele, Uintah, and Utah counties. It is widespread in North America and Eurasia. General Information: Annual Samphire accumulates salt in the foliage tissue. Stems commonly break at the joints when the plant reaches maturity.

87

CHENOPODIACEAE

SARU


Remaining Photos: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Utah Samphire (Sarcocornia utahensis) Above: Š 2009 Robert Sivinski


Utah Samphire Sarcocornia utahensis (Tidestrom) A.J. Scott

Description: Utah Samphire, also called Utah Pickleweed, Utah Swampfire, or Chickenclaws, is a native, perennial herb in the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) with a coarsely rhizomatous woody base and thick fibrous roots. It is generally 3½”-12” tall and stems are fleshy, erect or ascending, and turning gray or brown at maturity. Leaves are green, simple, opposite, smooth, scale-like, and fused with thin, dry, membranous margins. There are terminal spikes on each stem that are up to 2” long, thin, and short-jointed. Flowers are perfect, sessile, and arranged in groups of 3 above scale-like bracts, and sunken into depressions of the thickened terminal spikes. The central flower is not generally elevated above the lateral flowers. Flowering occurs in August and into September. The walls of the fruit are thin and free from the erect, backwardly hairy seed. Fruits are dehiscent with the seeds falling separately and sometimes adhering to the sepals. Distribution and Habitat: Utah Samphire is found on saline, typically fine-textured soils in salt marsh, red swampfire, and saltgrass communities at 4,000’-4,600’ in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Juab, Millard, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, and Weber counties. It can be found on higher spots around the Great Salt Lake and other areas such as dry lake beds where there is a high concentration of salt. It also occurs from California to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. General Information: Utah Samphire contains salt that accumulates in tissue. Stems break at the joints when the plant reaches maturity.

88

CHENOPODIACEAE

SAUT2


Russian Thistle

Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

(Salsola tragus) Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University © 2008 Steve Matson

Left: © 2004, James M. Andre

Above: © 2010 Zoya Akulova Left: © 2011 James M. Andre


Russian Thistle Description: Russian Thistle, also called Tumbleweed, is a clump-forming, introduced, winter annual in the Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae). Plants are rounded and freely branched. They may be wider than tall or taller than wide, ½’-3’ tall or larger. Stems are red purple with longitudinal striations and smooth or hairy. Leaves are green and usually about ⅝”-1⅝” long, narrowly linear or threadlike, spiny at the tip, modified upward on the stem as spiny bracts with expanded bases and thin, dry, membranous margins. Flower inflorescences are short spikes usually up to 4” long. Small, green to transparent flowers are inconspicuous and are borne in the axils of upper leaves. Each has a pair of bracts beneath it. Flower bracts are spreading and often curved backward, egg-shaped to narrowly triangular, up to ⅓” long, smooth to hairy at the base, and strongly spiny at the tips. Fruits are small, thin-walled, one-seeded, and more or less inflated and bladder-like. Seeds are small and disseminated readily as mature plants break loose at ground level (abscission) and tumble across the landscape with the wind. Distribution and Habitat: Russian Thistle is a species of disturbed sites found in many habitats at 2,500’-8,000’ in all Utah counties. It was introduced with flaxseed from Russia into South Dakota circa 1873 and spread across the West in about 10 years. It is now widespread in North America. General Information: Russian Thistle produces considerable amounts of biomass on arid rangelands and is eaten by livestock in winter, especially when it is wet. It contains oxalates and is considered to be poisonous. However, most poisoning from Russian Thistle occurs due to nitrate poisoning which occurs when nitrates are accumulated and converted to toxic nitrites. This usually occurs from excess fertilization or environmental conditions, such as cloudy weather or frost, enhance nitrate formation in plants. Poisoning occurs when nitrate-reducing enzymes in the animals are lowest. 89

CHENOPODIACEAE

SATR12

Salsola tragus L.


Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Field Bindweed Above: © 2011 Zoya Akulova

(Convolvulus arvensis)

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above: © 2008 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

Above: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Right: © 2008 Louis-M. Landry


Field Bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis L. Description: Field Bindweed, also called Wild Morning Glory, is an introduced, perennial herb and member of the Morning Glory Family (Convolvulaceae). Plants are perennial vines with glabrous herbage. Field Bindweed reproduces both sexually and vegetatively. Seeds germinate through the growing season when adequate moisture is available. Plants quickly develop a taproot followed by lateral roots and numerous thin feeding roots. Plants flower June through August. Flower stalks arise from leaf axils, range from 0.2” to 2.4” long, and bear 1 to several flowers. Five fused white or pink petals with white stripes form a long funnel-like flower, 0.6” to 1.2” long, and 0.9” to 1.4” broad. Five stamens of unequal length are attached to the base of the corolla. The pistil is compound with two thread-like stigmas. Flowers persist only 1 day and are insect pollinated. Seed production is variable and dependent upon environmental conditions. Seeds can persist in the soil for up to 50 years. The number of seed per plant varies between 25 and 300. Leaves are mostly arrow-shaped, 0.4” to 4” long and 0.1” to 2.4” wide. Stems are trailing to somewhat twining, branched and sometimes forming tangled mats. Distribution and Habitat: Field Bindweed is found in fields, lawns, pastures, gardens, and along roadsides in all Utah counties at elevations from 3,000’-9,100’. General Information: Field Bindweed is a weed that denies eradication. Welsh et al. (2003) contend that “If one inherits a stand of bindweed when they purchase property, it will survive his or her occupancy.”

90

CONVOLVULACEAE

COAR4


Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Below: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Coyote Gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) Right: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Coyote Gourd

Cucurbita foetidissima Kunth CUFO

Distribution and Habitat: Coyote Gourd is found in wash bottoms, along roadsides, and in abandoned fields in the catclaw acacia-desert willow, creosote bush, Joshua tree, blackbrush, rabbitbrush, live oak, and pinyon-juniper communities at elevations from 2,700’-6,200’ in Washington, and San Juan counties and from California to Missouri and south to Texas. General Information: Leaves, stems, and fruits of the Coyote Gourd plant have an unpleasant smell hence the common name of “Stinking Gourd.” This plant has been used for food (seeds, root), soap-like cleansing properties of the tuberous roots, and various medicinal purposes (leaves, root), some of which are mystical in nature. It had certain powerful mythical connections to the bull buffalo, hence the common name “Buffalo Gourd.”

91

CUCURBITACEAE

Description: Coyote Gourd, also called Buffalo Gourd, Stinking Gourd, and Missouri Gourd, is a native, perennial vine in the Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae). Plants are robust with a large tuberous root that is broad in the middle, tapering down to each end, and weighing up to 22 pounds or more. Coyote Gourd may have several stems from a root crown that may be 20’ long or more. Leaves are thick and coarse, triangular- to egg-shaped, shallowly lobed, broadly rounded or heart-shaped at the base, tapered to a pointed tip with more or less straight or concave sides of the tip. Leaves are 4”-10” long, grayish-green, and rough to the touch. Flowers are yellow, 2½”-4” long, and trumpet-like or funnel-shaped. Flowering occurs from May through October in Utah. Fruits/gourds are ±3” in diameter and green with pale stripes, then turning yellow when ripe.


Above and Below: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Right: © 2005 Luigi Rignanese

Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

Above, below, & right: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Left: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Teasel

Dipsacus fullonum L. Description: Teasel, also called Fuller’s Teasel or Common Teasel, is an introduced, biennial, herbaceous plant in the Teasel Family (Dipsacaceae). Stems are stout, 32”-79” tall, and marked with fine grooves having prickles on the angles. Leaves are 8”-24” long, sessile, lance-shaped to oblong lance-shaped with rounded, saw-like teeth along the margins, and prickly along the veins. Upper leaves have entire margins that completely surround the stem. Flowers are trumpet-like tubes with 4 lobes and are aggregated into dense heads with bracts beneath. The bracts are linear, prickly on the margins, curving upward, and are as long as or longer than the flower head. Flower heads are 2”-3½” long and egg-shaped or rather cylindrical. Stamens, petals, and sepals are attached to the top of the ovary in individual flowers. Receptacles on which the flowers are borne have secondary bracts with stiff, straight awns. Flower petals are about ⅓”-½” long, with whitish tubes and pale purplish lobes. Flowering occurs in July and August and fruits are 4-angled achenes with one seed. Distribution and Habitat: Teasel is found in moist areas along roadsides, ditch banks, marshes, and wetlands at 4,700’-8,730’ in Box Elder, Cache, Daggett, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, and Wasatch counties. It is widespread in North America. It often forms dense, impenetrable stands in wet areas. General Information: Teasel was introduced from Europe and is used in dried floral arrangements. The dried velcro-like heads have been used traditionally as brushes in the wool and tailoring industries. It is invasive and listed as a noxious weed in Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, and New Mexico.

92

DIPSACACEAE

DIFU2


Right: © 2008 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Right: © 2007 Louis-M. Landry

Above: John Cardina, Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

Left: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)

Left and above: © 2008 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy


Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale L. Description: Horsetail is a native, perennial, cool-season plant in the Horsetail Family (Equisetaceae). Horsetail stems are annual and of two kinds, fertile and sterile. Fertile stems are borne in springtime and soon withered, are whitish, pinkish, brownish, or yellowish. They are unbranched, 2”12” tall, and up to ⅓” thick. Leaves are small and scale-like, often not green, whorled, and united at the base to form a sheath around the stem. The sheaths are ½”-¾” long with large, partly fused teeth up to ⅓” long. Some fertile stems produce blunt cones up to 1⅓” long. Horsetail reproduces vegetatively from rhizomes and from light yellow spores. Sterile stems are green with ascending vegetative branches in regular whorls, are cylindrical and 2”-20” tall, <¼” thick, and10-12-ridged. Ridges have minute bumps and cross-ridges. Distribution and Habitat: Horsetail is a circumboreal species native to North America, Europe, and Asia. It is found in valleys and along streams and rivers on moist to somewhat dry sites in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, aspen, and fir communities. It occurs at elevations from 2,800’10,000’and has been reported in all Utah counties except Carbon, Davis, Morgan, Rich, Sanpete, and Summit. General Information: Horsetail is also called Meadow Horsetail, Scouring Rush, and Field Horsetail. Horsetails belong to one of the most ancient lineages of land plants. They are in a remnant group of firm-walled, hollow-stemmed, jointed plants that have come down from the coal forming period of the Paleozoic era. The deposition of mineral silica on the stems gave rise to the name “Scouring Rush.”

93

EQUISETACEAE

EQHY


Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)

Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above and below: John M. Randall, Steve Dewey, Utah State The Nature Conservancy, University, Bugwood.org Bugwood.org

Right: Norman E. Rees, USDA ARS, Bugwood. org

L.L. Berry, Bugwood.org


Leafy Spurge Description: Leafy Spurge is an introduced, perennial, herbaceous plant, and a member of the Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae). All plant parts, but especially stems, exude a milky fluid when damaged. Stems arise from a woody base and have long, horizontal rhizomes that are smooth. Plants may have few or many stems that are 12”-30” tall and erect or curved steeply upward. The stem (cauline) leaves are alternate, typically 1”2⅜” long, up to ¼” wide, linear to narrowly oblong, and entire. The lower leaves are often dropped by the time plants flower. Leaves on the branches below the inflorescence are wider. Inflorescences are flattopped or convex with pedicels arising more or less from a common point like the struts of an umbrella (umbels). However, some flowers are produced in axils below the inflorescence. The inflorescence pedicels divide toward the end, producing paired, broad, greenish or yellowish bracts below cup-like clusters of tiny unisexual flowers. Seeds are oblong, grayish to purple, and in capsules that burst open at maturity disseminating the seeds widely. Flowering occurs from May through July. Distribution and Habitat: Leafy Spurge was introduced from Eurasia in the 19th Century. It is found in fields, along roadsides and riparian areas, in pastures, and on rangelands. In Utah it is found at 4,600’-9,500’ and has been reported specifically in Box Elder, Cache, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties. It is widely established across North America. General Information: Leafy Spurge is highly invasive and considered a primary noxious weed in many areas. It poses a considerable threat to range and forest plant communities as well as cultivated agricultural throughout the West and is on the noxious weed list in 22 states including Utah. Several chemical and biological agents (certain insect species, sheep, and goats) have been effective in Leafy Spurge control. 94

EUPHORBIACEAE

EUES

Euphorbia esula L.


Locoweed or Milkvetch (Astragalus spp.)

Left and Above: Hall’s Milkvetch (A. hallii), Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Below: Meadow Milkvetch (A. argophyllus), Š 2011 Steve Matson

Above and Below: Alpine Milkvetch (A. alpinus), Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Left: Stinking Milkvetch (A. praelongus), Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University


Locoweed or Milkvetch ASTRA

Astragalus spp. L.

Description: Locoweeds or Milkvetches are members of the Pea Family (Fabaceae) and include annual and perennial, native and introduced, erect and prostrate herbs. Flowers of Astragalus species are arranged in racemes and resemble pea flowers but are usually smaller. Colors vary from white to yellow, blue, lavender, and purple. Fruits resemble pea pods, and are papery, leathery, or woody. Leaves are alternate and may be odd-pinnately compound (leaflet at the tip), trifoliolate, or simple, and often hairy. Plants reproduce from seed. Seeds are hard and usually kidney-shaped.

General Information: Locoweeds and Milkvetches often begin growth in the fall and winter. Plants are generally toxic when green as well as when dry. Species that occur in Utah fall into four categories: 1) those that are not harmful to livestock, of which Cicer Milkvetch is the sole entry; 2) those harmful to livestock with toxins that result in locoism caused by the alkaloid swainsonine or that cross the placenta and exert an effect on the developing fetus and/or embryonic death (locoweeds); 3) those that cause respiratory failure and peripheral nerve degeneration due to nitroglycoside compounds such as miserotoxin found in Timber Milkvetch (milkvetches); and 4) those that accumulate selenium causing chronic selenium poisoning of livestock (milkvetches). Species Referenced: A. alpinus L. - Alpine Milkvetch ASAL7 A. argophyllus Nutt. – Meadow Milkvetch ASAR4 A. cicer L. – Cicer Milkvetch ASCI4 A. hallii A. Gray – Hall’s Milkvetch ASHA2 A. miser Douglas ex Hook. - Timber Milkvetch ASMI9 A. praelongus Sheldon – Stinking Milkvetch ASPR5 95

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Locoweeds and Milkvetches are common on mountains, foothills, plains, and semidesert areas in Utah. They are found at elevations from 2,200’-10,400’ in all Utah counties and are adapted to a wide range of soils and habitats with a variety of associated species.


All Kanab Prairie-clover photos: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Kanab Prairie Clover (Dalea flavescens)

Searls’ Prairie Clover (Dalea searlsiae)

Above and above right: © Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Left: © 2004 James M. Andre


Prairie Clover DALEA

Dalea spp. L.

Description: Searls’ Prairie Clover and Kanab Prairie Clover, also known as Canyonlands Prairie Clover, are perennial herbs in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Searls’ has smooth, hairless stems that are decumbent to erect, 9”-26” tall, and growing from a woody base at or near the soil surface. It has stipules at the base of leaf petioles. Leaves are ½”-2” long with 5-11 oblanceolate to elliptic or almost linear folded leaflets. Flower stalks are 1⅓”-8⅔” long and bear a spike-like cluster of pink to purple flowers that bloom from the base to the tip of the cluster. The fruit is a small hairy pod with 1 seed. Kanab Prairie Clover stems are up to 20” tall, leaves are 1¾” long, with 3-7 leaflets that are fine hairy above and below, and with glands underneath. Flowers are borne in spike clusters, and are white fading to cream, with styles nearly ⅜” long. Flowers bloom from bottom to top. Seedpods are covered with long wooly hairs.

General Information: Dalea species of the Great Plains are known to have been used by various Plains Indians as food and as a tea for treatment of stomachache, dysentery, and measles. It was also used as a moxa (burned on the skin as a counterirritant) for treatment of headache, rheumatism, and pneumonia. The Navajo are said to have used White Prairie Clover (unspecified way) for abdominal pain. Kanab Prairie Clover is a Navajo Basin endemic. Species Referenced: D. flavescens (S. Watson) S.L. Welsh - Kanab Prairie Clover DAFL D. searlsiae (A. Gray) Barneby – Searls’ Prairie Clover DASE3 96

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Searls’ Prairie Clover occurs in warm and cool desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and sometimes spruce-fir communities at 3,300’-9,200’ and has been reported in Beaver, Box Elder, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Kane, Tooele, and Washington counties. Kanab Prairie Clover occupies sandy substrates in grasslands, mixed desert shrub, and pinyon-juniper communities at 3,180’-6,050’ and occurs in Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Sevier, and Wayne counties.


Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above and below: Š 2010 Steve Matson

Below: Š 2010 Steve Matson

American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

Left and above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


American Licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh

GLLE3 Description: American Licorice is a native, perennial plant in the Legume or Pea Family (Fabaceae). It is 15”-50” tall growing from a stout, deep-seated, sweet root. Branches bearing alternate, odd-pinnately compound leaves that are 3”-7½” in length, with 13-19 leaflets up to 21” long, have awnshaped stipules up to ¼” long. Leaves are smooth and hairless above and glandular-dotted beneath. Flower stalks are often paired and 1½”-3” long. Inflorescences are 20-50-flowered racemes growing upward when flowers are fully expanded. Flowers are white to cream colored and ⅓”-½” long. Flowering occurs from May to August. Fruits are laterally compressed and oblong with spreading pods ½”-¾” long and up to ¼” wide. Fruits have hooked prickles resembling cockleburs.

General Information: American Licorice is also called Wild Licorice. Although it is generally considered to be a weedy plant it produces forage readily eaten by livestock and wildlife. However, the bur-like fruit becomes entangled in wool in sheep. It is also lauded as an erosion control plant because of its soil binding capabilities. Native Americans of the Great Plains used American Licorice as a topical and internal medicine and as a food reported to taste similar to sweet potatoes.

97

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: American Licorice is found on terraces, streamsides, seeps and other semi-moist sites along waterways in creosote bush, greasewood, mixed desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, and cottonwood-willow communities at elevations from 2,180’-8,025’ in all Utah counties except Davis, Duchesne, Morgan, and Tooele. It is widespread in the U.S. except for the southeastern states.


Right: Š Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Left and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.com

Above and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Utah Sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale)


Utah Sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale Nutt.

HEBO Description: Utah Sweetvetch, also called Northern Sweetvetch, is a native, coolseason, perennial forb in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). The stems arise from a woody base (caudex) underground or near the surface, are leafy, 6⅔”-27½” tall, and are decumbent to erect. Stems have stipules up to ⅜” long with some fused. Leaves are ±1⅛”-4¾” long with 5-15 leaflets up to 1⅜” long and ¾” wide. Leaflets are green above and gray below, oblong to elliptic, narrowly lance-shaped, or egg-shaped with straight, stiff, sharp, appressed hairs on both sides or almost smooth above. Flower cluster stalks (peduncles) are 1⅛”-6” long with 5- to 10-flowered racemes. Individual flowers are borne on short pedicels (flower stems), are ±⅜” long, and are red purple to pink or pink purple or occasionally white. It flowers from April to August and produces constricted pods (loments) with several sections containing 1 brown, kidney-shaped seed.

General Information: There are 2 varieties of Utah Sweetvetch in Utah, H. boreale var. boreale and H. boreale var. gremiale, called Rollin’s Sweetvetch, which is endemic and found in Uintah County. Utah Sweetvetch is considered highly desirable forage for livestock and big game. It fixes nitrogen in the soil and is widely used in range and reclamation seedings. There is one cultivar called “Timp” that is available commercially.

98

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Utah Sweetvetch occurs in mixed desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, and aspen communities at elevations from 3,850’-9,050’ and has been collected and reported in all Utah counties except Beaver, Iron, Piute, and Summit.


Creeping Rushpea (Hoffmannseggia repens)

All photos: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Creeping Rushpea

Hoffmannseggia repens (East.) Cockerell HORE Description: Creeping Rushpea is a native, perennial herb in the Pea Family (Fabaceae) arising from a deep belowground woody base. Above ground it is 3”-7” tall and may grow erect or sprawl along the ground. Leaves are pinnately compound and up to 3¾” long. Leaves are composed of 4-14 leaflets about ½” long and ¼” wide, asymmetrically obovateelliptic to oblong, crowded, entire, and with small, soft, shaggy, hairs. Flower stalks are ½”-2½” long and racemes are 7-26 flowered, spreading at anthesis. Individual flowers have bracts up to ¼” long and pedicels up to ¼” long. The calyx is ≈⅜” long, the tube <¼” long, bell shaped, and with small, soft, shaggy hairs. The flowers open flat and petals are yellow and red spotted near the base. The whole flower fades to pink-orange. The fruit are oblong, membranous, minutely hairy, pendulous pods with soft, long, straight hairs. Distribution and Habitat: Creeping Rushpea is found in sandy deserts with ephedra, Indian ricegrass, rough mulesears, and other plants of sand areas at elevations from 4,700’-5,500’ in Emery, Garfield, Grand, San Juan, and Wayne counties as well as in Colorado.

FABACEAE

General Information: Creeping Rushpea is a Colorado Plateau endemic.

99


Lanszwert’s Sweetpea (Lathyrus lanszwertii)

Above, below, & right: © 2006 Steve Matson

Above: © 2009 Trent M. Draper

Utah Sweetpea (Lathyrus pauciflorus)

Remaining Utah Sweetpea photos: © 2009 Trent M. Draper

Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com


Sweetpea

LATHY

Lathyrus spp. L.

Distribution and Habitat: Lanszwert’s Sweetpea occurs in aspen, Douglas fir, and spruce-fir communities at 5,400’-11,300.’ It occurs in all Utah counties except Daggett, Piute, and Wayne. Utah Sweetpea occupies sagebrush, Gambel oak, mountain brush, aspen, lodgepole pine, mixed conifer, and meadow communities at 4,500’-10,000’ and occurs in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties. General Information: There are 4 varieties of Lanszwert’s Sweetpea in Utah and all are restricted to mesic habitats. Both Lanszwert’s and Utah Sweetpea provide excellent forage for wild and domestic grazers. Species Referenced: L. lanszwertii Kellopp – Lanszwert’s Sweetpea LALA3 L. pauciflorus Fernald – Utah Sweetpea LAPA5 100

FABACEAE

Description: Lanszwert’s and Utah Sweetpea are native, perennial herbs in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Lanszwert’s Sweetpea is a weakly climbing plant 8”-24” tall, with smooth to hairy herbage and almost heart-shaped stipules. Leaves are up to 5½” long (excluding tendrils) with 4-12 leaflets that may be 3” long and almost ¾” wide, elliptic to lance-shaped, inversely lance-shaped, or egg-shaped. Tendrils may be short and simple or branched and grasping. Flower stalks (peduncles) are ≈¾”-3⅓” long. Inflorescences are racemes with 2 to 5 flowers that are ≈½”-⅞” long, pink-purple to white or cream and often tinged with pink or purple. Fruits (pods) are 1⅛”-2⅓” long and ¼” or more wide. Utah Sweetpea is a climbing herb up to 40” tall. Stems are angular with stipules up to 1¼” long with the largest ones leafy and toothed. Leaves are about 5” long (excluding tendrils) with 8-12 leaflets that are ½”-2” long and up to 1¼” wide, and egg-shaped to elliptic. Tendrils are well developed and grasping. Peduncles are 1⅜”-9½” long and racemes have 3-10 flowers. Flowers are about 1” long and pink to pink purple. Flowers appear from May through July.


Above: © 2005 Louis-M. Landry

Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org © 2005 Steve Matson Below: © 2005 Louis-M. Landry

Right: © 2007 Zoya Akulova

Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Below: © 2011 Zoya Akulova

Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus L.

LOCO6 Description: Birdsfoot Trefoil is an introduced, moderately long-lived, perennial plant in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Plants have well developed, branching tap-like roots and lateral roots. Stems are ±4”-20” tall, ascending or trailing on the ground, smooth or with straight, stiff, sharp, and appressed hairs. Stems are branched, moderately leafy, and have stipules almost as large or equally as large as the leaflets. Leaves have 5 leaflets from 2”-6” long and up to ⅓” wide. Leaflets are inversely egg-shaped, and rounded at the tips. Inflorescences are borne on peduncles up to 3” long and flowers have 1-3 leaf-like bracts. Flowers are in whorls of mostly 5-12 flowers at the ends of stems, are about ½” long, and are yellow. Fruits are brown pods that extend outward from the ends of the stems and are ¾”-1⅜” long when ripe.

General Information: Birdsfoot Trefoil was introduced from Europe for forage production. It provides excellent non-bloating forage for livestock and also provides forage for Canada geese, mule deer, and elk. It is also planted for erosion control on disturbed areas.

101

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Birdsfoot Trefoil is a cultivated forage plant of irrigated pastures. It generally grows best in slightly acid soils and is used where about 20” of moisture is available. It persists in cultivated fields in Box Elder, Cache, Millard, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Utah, and Washington counties. It is widely distributed across the U.S. and Canada.


Left: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

UtahTrefoil (Lotus utahensis)

Above: Š Lee Dittmann, used with permission

Above and below: Š Lee Dittmann, used with permission

Above: Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University


Utah Trefoil

Lotus utahensis Ottley LOUT3 Description: Utah Trefoil, also called Utah Deervetch or Utah Deerclover, is a native, perennial herb in the Pea Family (Fabaceae) that grows from an almost woody base. It is 6”-17” tall with erect-ascending stems. It has stipules that are reduced to glands, leaves are sessile and palmately compound, and have 3-5 leaflets up to 1” or more long and up to ¼” wide. Leaflets are spatula-shaped to inversely lance-shaped or oblong and blunt-tipped to sharp pointed. Inflorescences are borne on peduncles (stems) ½”-3” long and flowers have 1-3 leaf-like bracts. Flowers are in whorls of 1-4 flowers at the ends of stems, are almost ⅔” long, and are yellow suffused with red. Fruits are narrowly oblong pods that are ⅞”-1⅜” long and about ⅛” wide, and that are minutely rough hairy to almost hairless and shining straight when ripe. Distribution and Habitat: Utah Trefoil occurs in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 4,800’-9,000’ in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, Sevier, Utah, Washington, and Wayne counties. It also occurs in Arizona and Nevada.

FABACEAE

General Information: Utah Trefoil is the most common species of Lotus in Utah.

102


Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

Above: Silky Lupine (L. sericeus), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Left: Rusty Lupine (L. pusillus), Š Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Left: Rusty Lupine (L. pusillus), Š 2008 Steve Matson Above: Silvery Lupine (L. argenteus), Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Below: Silvery Lupine (L. argenteus), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: Spurred Lupine (L. caudatus), Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org


Lupine

LUPIN

Lupinus spp. L.

Description: Lupines are annual and perennial plants in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). There are 14 species recognized by plant taxonomic authorities in Utah. Among those species there are numerous recognized varieties. One annual native species, Rusty Lupine, and three perennial native species, Silvery, Spurred, and Silky Lupine are presented here because they are common native plants in much of Utah. Lupines have alternate, palmately compound leaves with slender stipules at the base of the leaf stalks (petioles). Flowers are in terminal racemes (flowers on pedicels off of an unbranched main stalk). Flowers are two-lipped (irregular) and petals are generally blue or blue-purple. Flowers have 10 stamens united by the filaments, 5 short filaments and 5 long filaments. Flowering occurs from spring through the summer. Lupines produce laterally compressed legumes (pods).

General Information: Most Lupines are not toxic but some contain toxic compounds that are poisonous, especially to sheep. Certain alkaloids in Lupines also cause birth defects such as cleft palate and skeletal deformities when consumed at specific times during gestation. Silvery, Spurred, and Silky Lupine are recognized as species that are particularly problematic due to piperidine and quinolizidine alkaloid poisoning. King’s Lupine (Lupinus kingii), another Lupine found in Southern Utah, was used by Navajo weavers to make a greenish yellow dye. Species Referenced: L. argenteus Pursh - Silvery Lupine LUAR3 L. caudatus Kellogg - Spurred, Tailcup Lupine LUCA L. pusillus Pursh - Rusty Lupine LUPU L. sericeus Pursh - Silky Lupine LUSE4 103

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Lupines are found in all areas of Utah from creosote bush and blackbrush to mixed-conifer and alpine meadow communities at elevations from 2,460’-11,500’.


Sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) Left: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org

Right: Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Š 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Below: Š 2005 Louis-M. Landry

Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Sweetclover

Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. MEOF Description: Sweetclover is an introduced, annual to biennial herb in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Stems are erect, minutely hairy with straight, stiff, sharp hairs pressed close to the surface, and up to 5’ tall. Stems have persistent stipules that are entire, or with 1-3 basal teeth, and up to ⅜” long. Leaves have 3 leaflets (trifoliate) that are wedge-shaped to elliptic or inversely lance-shaped, ⅓”-1½” long and up to ⅔” wide, teethed along the margins, hairy or smooth, and on short stems (petioles). Flower clusters are borne on peduncles (flower stems) that may be shorter or longer than the leaves beneath them. Elongated inflorescences (racemes) are ≈¾”-4⅓” long and are 20- to 65-flowered. Flowers are ≈⅛”-¼” long, and yellow, fading cream. Flowering occurs from May to June until frost. Fruits are pods with 1-2 seeds.

General Information: Sweetclover was introduced from Europe. It fixes nitrogen and is commonly used in reclamation plantings. It is an important food and cover plant for birds and small mammals. Bees and butterflies are attracted to it and it is important in honey production. It can make up a large proportion of deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope diets in summer and fall. It is also an important livestock forage plant and is sometimes cut for hay. Yellow Sweetclover contains coumarin which breaks down to dicoumarin when the plant is spoiled or damaged. This compound is used as a blood thinner and anticoagulant in rat and mouse poisons and also used for treating human ailments.

104

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Sweetclover is found in disturbed habitats, in fields, along roadsides, and often in native plant communities at elevations from 2,800’-8,000’ in all Utah counties and throughout North America.


Left and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)

Left and above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Right: Steve Hurst @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


Sainfoin

Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. ONVI Description: Sainfoin is an introduced, perennial plant in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). It has numerous leafy stems that are hollow, 24”-31” tall, and that arise from a branching caudex (persistent, woody base) located near the soil surface. The stems are ascending to erect and have clasping stipules up to ½” long. Leaves are compound, having 11-21 oblong to elliptic or inversely lance-shaped leaflets up to 1” long and ≈¼” wide. Leaflets are hairy along the veins on the underneath side and smooth on the upper side. Flower stalks are 3”-7½” long and racemes bear 1439 flowers with the flowers ascending-spreading at full flowering. The flowers are ⅜”-½” long and reddish purple, lavender, or pink. The fruit is a one-seeded pod, attached directly to the stem, curved upward, and armed with prickles. Seeds are dark olive green, brown, or black.

General Information: Sainfoin was first collected in Utah along an irrigation canal in Salt Lake City in 1943. It has been widely used in Conservation Reserve Program plantings where there is adequate precipitation. It is a nonbloating legume and is planted for hay and pasture. It is preferred forage for cattle, sheep, deer, and elk.

105

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Sainfoin is an introduced forage and reclamation plant. It is planted in areas having at least 12” of precipitation and at elevations from 4,200’7,200.’ It is known to occur in Cache, Daggett, Juab, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Summit, Utah, and Wayne counties.


Rush Scurfpea (Psoralidium junceum)

All photos: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Rush Scurfpea

Psoralidium junceum (Eastw.) Rydb. PSJU2 Description: Rush Scurfpea, also called Rush Lemonweed, is a native, perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Stems are 19”-35” tall, with 5 or more elongated internodes, and with stiff, straight, sharp hairs pressed closely against the stem. Leaves are alternate, reduced, palmately tri-foliolate (3 leaflets), and with petioles ½”-2¾” long. Leaflets are ¾”-1¾” long and up to ¼” wide, inversely lance-shaped to elliptic, tapering to a sharp tip and forming concave margins along the sides, and with straight, stiff, sharp, hairs pressed against upper and lower gland-dotted surfaces. Leaves are often deciduous by flowering. Flowers with stalks are in axillary, interrupted, 7- to 20-flowered, spike-like racemes <¼”-⅜” long or more. Bracts are small, lance-shaped tapering to a sharp tip and forming concave margins along the sides, smooth on upper surfaces, and deciduous. Flowers are <¼” long and indigo. The calyx is bell-shaped, not swollen, and 5-lobed with the lower lobe longer than the others. Fruits are 1-seeded pods covered with long, soft, unmatted, silky-hairs.

General Information: Rush Scurfpea is a Glen Canyon-San Juan endemic. The scientific name “Psoralidium junceum” means “roughly scaled” and “rush-like.”

106

FABACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Rush Scurfpea grows on stabilized dunes and other sandy areas with Indian ricegrass, frosted mint, sand sagebrush, blackbrush, and less commonly with juniper at 3,740’-5,580’ in Garfield, Kane, and San Juan counties. It also occurs in Coconino County, Arizona.


Fringeleaf Necklacepod (Sophora stenophylla)

Above and left: Š Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Below Tracey Slotta @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above: Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University


Fringeleaf Necklacepod Sophora stenophylla A. Gray

SOST4 Description: Fringeleaf Necklacepod, also called Silvery Sophora, is a native, perennial, herbaceous plant in the Legume or Pea Family (Fabaceae). Leafy stems are 4”-16” tall and ascending to erect from deeply-seated rhizomes. Leaves (some with distinct stipules) are small and lacy, alternate, linear to oblong, and densely pubescent with soft silvery hairs. Stems terminate in irregular, pea-like flowers (12-39 with 5 petals forming a banner, wings, and keel) that are bluish purple to blue, and are borne on pedicels in unbranched, elongated inflorescences (racemes) 2”-7” long. Fruits are pods 2⅜” long and up to ⅓” wide. Pods are strongly constricted between the usually 1-5 seeds and are covered with short, stiff hairs pressed closely against the surface. Distribution and Habitat: Fringeleaf Necklacepod is found on sand dunes and other sandy sites, in sand sagebrush, ephedra-buckwheat, blackbrush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and, less commonly, salt desert shrub communities at elevations from 2,950’-7,450’ in Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne counties.

FABACEAE

General Information: Fringeleaf Necklacepod is very fragrant and strikingly beautiful with silvery foliage. It flowers in mid-spring.

107


Steve Dewey, Utah State Univ., Bugwood.org

Mountain Goldenbanner (Thermopsis montana)

Above and left: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Below and right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org


Mountain Goldenbanner Thermopsis montana Nutt.

THMO6

Distribution and Habitat: Mountain Goldenbanner is found in moist sites along streams, in meadows, around seeps, and around springs at elevations from 4,100’11,250’ in all Utah counties except Carbon, Davis, Emery, Salt Lake, and Tooele and from B.C. and Montana south to Arizona and New Mexico. General Information: Although it is not generally a problem because it is rarely consumed by livestock, Mountain Goldenbanner contains toxins (quinolizidine alkaloids) that cause myopathy or muscle degeneration.

108

FABACEAE

Description: Mountain Goldenbanner is a native, perennial plant in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Stems are caulescent (leafy rising from the ground), erect, hairy to smooth, and 8”-30” tall. Leaf stalks have lance-shaped to eggshaped leaf-like structures (stipules) ½”-2⅓” long and up to 1¼” wide at the base where they are attached to the stem. Leaf stalks are up to 1½” long. Leaves are dark green and composed of three leaflets approximately 1”-3⅔” long and up to 1½” wide. Leaflets are pointed to round at the tip, narrowly oval to lance-shaped or inversely lance-shaped, smooth above and with fine, long straight hairs below. Flower stalks (peduncles) are from 1”-5” long. Flowers are borne in 2- to 23-flowered racemes that are 2⅓”-±10” long when flowers are fully expanded and 3½”-11” long when bearing fruit. Flowers are yellow in color and ±1” long. Pods are covered with long, soft, straight hairs, erect or growing upward on short stalks, and straw-like or black in color when mature. Fruits are dark brown, about ⅛” long and tapering from the middle to both the base and the tip. Flowering occurs from May through June.


© 2011 Steve Matson

Above: Steve Hurst @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database © 2008 Steve Matson

American Vetch (Vicia americana) © 2008 Steve Matson

Left: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

© 2011 Steve Matson

Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


American Vetch

Vicia americana Muhl. Ex Willd. VIAM

Distribution and Habitat: American Vetch is found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 4,160’11,700’ in all Utah counties. There are two varieties of American Vetch in Utah, V. americana var. americana and V. americana var. minor which is called Plains Vetch. It occurs in mixed desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities in Daggett and Uintah counties. General Information: American Vetch provides excellent food and cover for wildlife including insects, small mammals, black bears, mule deer, and elk. It is also grazed readily by cattle, sheep, and horses. Pods, seeds, and leaves of the plant are reported to have been used for food by Native Americans. A poultice of leaves was used to treat spider bites and infusions were used as eyewash and washes in sweat houses. 109

FABACEAE

Description: American Vetch is a native, perennial, climbing vine in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). Each plant is a single stem up to 4’ long or longer that may be smooth or hairy. The stem has partly arrowhead-shaped stipules up to about ⅜” long and deeply toothed on the lower region. Leaves are from ¾”-1⅛” long with 8-16 leaflets that are up to 1¾” long and ¾” wide. Leaflets are linear, elliptic, oblong, egg-shaped, lance-shaped, inverse lance-shaped, or inversely egg-shaped, and may be smooth or hairy, acute to blunt or rounded, with a shallow notch and ending in a small, slender point. Occasionally they are toothed at the tip. Leaflets have tendrils that emerge from the ends that may be simple or branched, and that support the stem as it climbs on surrounding plants or other objects. Flower clusters are borne in racemes on peduncles (inflorescence stems) ¾”-2⅔” long. Racemes have 3 to 7 flowers. Individual flowers are ½”-⅞” long and pink to pink purple. Flowering occurs from May to August. Fruits are smooth pods up to 1⅜” long and ⅓” wide that are borne on short stalks (stipes).


Left: Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Above: © Gary A. Monroe. USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Elkweed (Frasera speciosa)

Below: Joy Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org Left and above: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com


Elkweed

FRSP Description: Elkweed, also called Showy Gentian and Monument Plant, is a native, perennial herb and a member of the Gentian Family (Gentianaceae). It is a showy, robust plant that arises from a thick taproot and woody base. Elkweed has a single stem that is smooth to minutely hairy, erect, stout, yellowish to bluish green, and 20” -80” tall. Leaves are mostly whorled, slightly sheathing, and minutely hairy to smooth. Basal leaves are 8”-20’ long, spatula-shaped to lance-shaped with attachment at the narrow end (oblanceolate). Stem leaves are smaller toward the upper end and oblanceolate to lance-shaped. Flower clusters originate in the leaf axils and are open or congested cymes of whorled flat-topped or round topped panicles in which terminal flowers bloom first. Flower petals are pale green to whitish with purple dots. Distribution and Habitat: Elkweed is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, aspen and spruce-fir communities at 6,150’-11,000’ in all Utah counties and from the State of Washington to South Dakota, south to California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. General Information: The fleshy roots have been used for food raw, boiled and roasted. It has been used medicinally as a digestive stimulant but is reported to be somewhat of an irritant in its effects. The roots are reported to be used as bitter tonics for stimulating secretions and contractions of the stomach and small intestine. Powdered roots were used as a fungicide for athlete’s foot and mixed with grease to make a salve for killing lice.

110

GENTIANACEAE

Frasera speciosa Douglas ex Griseb.


Right: © 2009 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Below: © 2004 Steve Matson

Below: Richard Old, XID Service, Inc., Bugwood.org

Redstem Stork’s Bill (Erodium cicutarium)

Steve Hurst @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above: © 2007 Luigi Rignanese © 2004 Steve Matson

Right: © 2010 James M. Andre


Redstem Stork’s Bill

Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hertier Description: Redstem Stork’s Bill, also called Filaree, is an annual herb in the Geranium Family (Geraniaceae) introduced from the Mediterranean region (Spain). It is low and spreading, 2”-5” tall, growing from a central taproot. The stems are leafy and hairy. Leaves are pinnately dissected (finely divided as with a carrot), hairy, and very delicate. In early growth stages, the leaves form only a basal rosette, but later emerge on the stems as well. Flowers are borne on hairy stalks in umbrella-shaped clusters. Flowers vary in color from pink to purple. Filaree flowers from February to May, and plants usually dry up and disappear quickly after maturity. It is one of the first plants to germinate in late fall or spring. Redstem Stork’s Bill reproduces from seeds. Distribution and Habitat: Redstem Stork’s Bill is widely distributed and found on open sites in numerous plant communities at 2,665’-8,044’ in all Utah counties. It is widespread across North America and is common in the western U.S. from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. General Information: Redstem Stork’s Bill was noted by John C. Fremont in 1844 and, having several centuries of Spanish occupation to become widely distributed, acts like it is indigenous. Redstem Stork’s Bill fruits are long and pointed (hence the common name Stork’s Bill). These fruits curl like a corkscrew as the plant matures. When moistened, these fruits twist working the tip into the soil. Redstem Stork’s Bill furnishes excellent to good spring forage for cattle, sheep, desert tortoise, and other wildlife. It can also provide winter forage if seeds germinate following fall rains. It has been reported to cause bloating, and is an aggressive invader of desert ranges under heavy grazing. The very young leaves of Redstem Stork’s Bill can be eaten either raw or cooked. It is reported to have been used by a number of Native American tribes.

111

GERANIACEAE

ERCI6


Fremont Geranium (Geranium caespitosum) Right: Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Left: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Richardson’s Geranium (Geranium richardsonii)

Above, Middle, and Right: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Sticky Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum)

Right: Karen A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Geranium

Geranium spp. L.

Description: Sticky Geranium, also known as Sticky Purple Geranium, Richardson’s Geranium, and Fremont’s Geranium are common, native, perennial forbs. Sticky and Richardson’s stems arise from caudex-like rhizomes and Fremont’s few to many stems arise from a woody base. The three species have various smooth, hairy, and glandular herbage. Stems range from 4”-47” tall and are erect. Leaves are palmately lobed deeply on long, basal stalks. Leaf blades are dark green with Richardson’s Geranium leaves and 3-7-toothed, Sticky Geranium is 3-15-toothed (and glandular-hairy above and underneath) and Fremont’s Geranium leaves are 5 lobed and relatively small. Flowers are mostly borne in pairs at the tips of the stalks. Sticky petals are pink to purple with purplish lines, Richardson’s petals are white to pale lavender in color (and floral parts are smaller), and Fremont’s petals are white, pink, lavender, or pinkpurple. In most cases, the flower color, flower parts size, and leaf size in combination distinguish these Geranium species from each other. Distribution and Habitat: These Geranium species occur generally in the same plant communities - sagebrush, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, aspen, tall forb, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 5,500’-11,000’. Richardson’s Geranium has been reported in all Utah counties while Sticky Geranium has been collected in all Utah counties in the northern ⅔ of Utah, and Fremont’s occurs in the southern ⅔ of the state. General Information: The sticky glandular hairs on Sticky Geranium are reported to be protocarnivorous, that is, capable of dissolving protein, such as insects trapped on the leaf surfaces, and absorbing the nitrogen from the protein. Species Referenced: G. caespitosum James – Fremont Geranium GECA3 G. richardsonii Fisch. & Trautv. – Richardson’s Geranium GERI G. viscosissimum Fisch. & C.A. Mey. ex C.A. Mey. – Sticky Geranium GEVI2 112

GERANIACEAE

GERAN


Below: © 2008 Steve Matson

Above: © 2011 James M. Andre Left: © 2012 Gary A. Monroe

Below and right: © 2008 Steve Matson

Ballhead Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum)

Left and above: © 2008 Trent M. Draper


Ballhead Waterleaf Hydrophyllum capitatum Dougl. ex Benth.

Description: Ballhead Waterleaf, also called Capitate Waterleaf, is a native, perennial herb in the Waterleaf Family (Hydrophyllaceae). Plants are 4”-20” tall, growing from short rhizomes with a tight cluster of tuberous roots. Leaves are pinnately compound and egg-shaped to oval in outline. Leaves have straight, stiff, sharp hairs pressed on the surfaces. Leaf blades are 1”-4” long and ⅜”-5⅛” wide, have 5-7 divisions that are inversely egg-shaped to oblong or lance-shaped. The lobes and divisions are tapered to a point, blunt, or tipped with a short, sharp, abrupt point. The inflorescence is composed of 1 to several spherical cymes on stalks up to 2” long but shorter than the surrounding leaves. The inflorescence is mostly bent backwards when in fruit. Flower stalks are ¼” long or less. The sepals are rounded or abruptly tapered to a point, ⅛” long and narrow, with fringes of hair on the margins, and with straight, stiff, sharp hairs pressed on the surfaces. The petals are purplish, blue, or white. The stamens protrude beyond the corolla. Flowering occurs from April to July. The flowers normally produce round capsules containing 2 light brown seeds. Distribution and Habitat: Ballhead Waterleaf is found in damp, rich soil in mountain brush, aspen, sagebrush, and mixed conifer communities at 4,400’-9,000’ and has been documented to occur in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Juab, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. It also is found from British Columbia and Alberta south to California and Colorado. General Information: The herbage was used by Native Americans and early settlers as pot herbs.

113

HYDROPHYLLACEAE

HYCA4


Below: Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildlfowers.com

© 2008 Steve Matson Below: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

© 2008 Steve Matson

Crenulate Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata)

© Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Above: Dr. R. Doug Ramsey, Utah State University


Crenulate Phacelia

Phacelia crenulata Torr. ex S. Watson Description: Crenulate Phacelia, also called Heliotrope, Cleftleaf Wildheliotrope,or Scorpionweed, is a native, annual or biennial forb in the Waterleaf Family (Hydrophyllaceae). It has simple, or more commonly, branched stems 4”-16” tall with stalked glands on short or long hairs or hair-like outgrowths of the stem surfaces. It usually has some nonglandular hairs intermixed. It has mostly basal leaves that are sticky and with sharp, glass-like hairs. The leaves are oblong-elliptic to almost circular, almost entire to deeply lobed, the lower lobes sometimes almost distinct. The lower leaves are largest, petiolate, becoming smaller and finally sessile upward. Flowering occurs in the spring and it produces numerous showy, fragrant, purple-blue flowers on stems and branches that uncurl from the ends (inflorescence scorpoid and terminal). The calyx is composed of elliptic to lance-shaped sepals with the attachment at the narrower end. The corolla is composed of 5 united petals that are blue violet to purple, bell-shaped, and up to ≈¼” long. Five stamens protrude beyond the corolla. The fruit is a globe-shaped capsule with 4 elliptic to oblong, brown, pitted seeds. Distribution and Habitat: Crenulate Phacelia is common in all of the deserts of Central and Southern Utah. Four varieties are found at elevations from 3,500’8,500’ in Beaver, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne counties. It also occurs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. General Information: Crenulate Phacelia plants have an unpleasant odor. Some people experience irritation to the skin and discomfort caused by the sharp or glandular hairs on the stems and leaves. The name “Crenulate” means having a margin very finely notched with rounded projections and is in reference to the leaves. 114

HYDROPHYLLACEAE

PHCR


Below: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

© Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Wild Iris (Iris missouriensis)

Above: © Patrick J. Alexander, www.swbiodiversity.org

Above and right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: © Patrick J. Alexander, www.swbiodiversity.org


Wild Iris

Iris missouriensis Nutt. IRMI

Distribution and Habitat: Wild Iris grows in moist meadows, along streambanks, and in other moist locations at 4,700’-9,500’ and sometimes forms solid masses of plants. It has been reported to occur in Box Elder, Carbon, Duchesne, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Piute, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Summit, Uintah, Utah, and Wayne counties. It is found from British Columbia to New Mexico and from the Northern Great Plains to the Pacific Coast of the U.S. General Information: Wild Iris is also called Western Blue Flag, Rocky Mountain Iris, Missouri Iris, and Iris. It is considered a weedy plant by some because it competes well with other plants in hay meadows and pastures. Fresh rhizomes and roots have been reported to be toxic. Wild Iris has been used for making cordage because of the particularly strong and flexible leaf fibers. It was used for making numerous kinds of items from fishing lines to nets, snares, ropes, bags, and other things. Iris rhizomes have been used externally to treat various wounds and sores. It is has also been used internally as a diuretic and cathartic.

115

IRIDACEAE

Description: Wild Iris is a native, perennial plant in the Iris Family (Iridaceae). It has rhizomes up to ¾” thick with brownish, scaly bases from which few to many whitish, waxy, linear leaves, 2⅓”-30” long and up to ½” wide, and straw-colored or brown at the base are produced. Leaves have parallel veins and are sometimes purplish. Flower stems are 8”-32” tall, and may be branched or simple with 1-3 flowers, each above or enclosed by bracts. Blossoms (perianths) include 3 spreading or reflexed falls (sepals) which have a yellow strip and 3 erect or overarching standards (petals) which are whitish to blue with dark veins. Wild Iris blooms from May to September and produces seed capsules 1”-3” long.


Below: © J.S. Peterson @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Below: © Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Horsemint (Agastache urticifolia)

Left & above: © 2005 Steve Matson

Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Horsemint

Agastache urticifolia (Benth.) Kuntze Description: Horsemint is a native, perennial plant in the Mint Family (Lamiaceae). Stems are square, hollow, smooth, 24”-60” tall, and arise from creeping rhizomes. Leaves are 1⅜”-3⅛” long, mostly egg-shaped or triangularegg-shaped, usually smooth and green on the top and smooth to hairy and pale green underneath. Flower clusters (inflorescence) are arranged in whorls around the stem, 1½”-6” long, and 1” thick with individual flowers attached directly to the stem or attached to the stem with short stalks. The calyx (collective term for sepals, separate or united) is approximately ⅜” long and green or rose. The corolla (collective term for petals separate or united) is white to rose or violet with the upper lip not prominently thrust forward. The lower stamens ascending under the upper lip of the corolla and the upper stamens thrust down and crossing the lower lip of the corolla. Horsemint flowers from June through August and produces a fruit called a schizocarp which, at maturity, breaks into 4, 1-seeded, nutlets. Distribution and Habitat: Horsemint occurs in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 5,400’-10,800’ in all Utah counties except Daggett, Emery, Grand, Morgan, Summit, Uintah, and Wayne. General Information: Other common names for Horsemint are Horse-nettle and Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop. The leaves are analgesic and anti-rheumatic. Lewis and Clark did not collect this plant, but they did use it medicinally while at their camp on the Clearwater River to treat a soldier with chronic, severe back pain.

116

LAMIACEAE

AGUR


Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University Right and right center: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers. com

© 2012 Gary A. Monroe

Tapertip Onion (Allium acuminatum) Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Left: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org


Tapertip Onion

Allium acuminatum Hook. Description: Tapertip Onion is a native, cool-season perennial herb in the Onion Subfamily of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). Bulbs are ⅜”-⅝” long and as wide or wider and buried 1”-4” in the soil. Scales are arranged in a network with obvious thickened ridges. Plants have 2-4 linear, convexconcave leaves that are shorter than the flower stalks. Leaves typically exhibit sheathing and have purplish bases. Flower stalks (scapes) are 4”-12” tall. Plants have a pair of bracts below a 15- 38-flowered umbel inflorescence. Flower pedicels are straight or curved and flowers (perianths) are composed of 6 stamens, 3 petals, and 3 sepals up to ½” long and rose to pink-purple or pink. Flower segments have recurved tips. Flowering occurs in spring and summer. Seeds are produced in 3 fused carpels. Distribution and Habitat: Tapertip Onion is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities, at 4,500’-8,800’and has been reported in all Utah counties except Carbon, Emery, Piute, Wayne, and Kane. General Information: Tapertip Onion is sought out by domestic and wild herbivores and omnivores. It is recognized as a popular pot herb. Members of the Allium genus are known to contain volatile oils and sulfur glycosides that act as digestive stimulants, expectorants, and provide other medicinal actions. An alkaloid, N-propyl disulfide, which is present in both domestic and wild onions, chives, and garlic, is known to cause poisoning in cattle, horses, dogs, sheep, and goats.

117

LILIACEAE

ALAC4


Funnel Lily (Androstephium breviflorum)

Above and below: © 2005 James M. Andre

Above and right: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Below: © Alan J. Hahn

Above: © 2005 James M. Andre


Funnel Lily

Androstephium breviflorum S. Watson Description: Funnel Lily is a native, perennial herb in the Lily Family (Liliaceae). Plants arise from bulbs with a fabric-like coating that are ⅜”-1⅜” in diameter and about as long. Bulbs are buried up to 3½” below ground. Plants do not have stems but have leafless peduncles that bear the flowers (scapes) and that arise from ground level along with 1-3 leaves per plant. Leaves are linear, straight or only somewhat curved, and almost equal to the scape in length or sometimes longer. The scape has 5-veined spathe-like bracts that are fused basally that are located beneath the inflorescence. The inflorescence is a 3- to 5-flowered umbel with pedicels that are typically straight. The perianth (sepals and petals collectively) is about ½”-⅞” long, dirty greenish or purplish white, with the midveins often blue purple, and the segments fused about ⅓ of the length. Fruits are 3-lobed capsules ⅜”-½” long and broad. Seeds are black. Flowering occurs from March through May. Distribution and Habitat: Funnel Lily is found in creosote bush, Joshua tree, blackbrush, shadscale, mat saltbush, sagebrush, and pinyon-juniper communities at 2,700’-6,500’ in Beaver, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, San Juan, Sevier, Uintah, Utah, Washington, and Wayne counties. General Information: The species name of Funnel Lily, breviflorum, means short flowers.

118

LILIACEAE

ANBR4


Left: Sego Lily (C. nuttallii), © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildlfowers.com

Above: Sego Lily (C. nuttallii), © Alan J. Hahn Left: Sego Lily (C. nuttallii), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Sego Lily and Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus spp.) Above: Gunnison’s Mariposa Lily (C. gunnisonii), © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildlfowers.com

Above: Weakstem Mariposa Lily (C. flexuosus), © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildlfowers.com

Above and right: Golden Mariposa Lily (C. aureus), © G. A. Cooper @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


Sego Lily & Mariposa Lilies Calochortus spp. Pursh

Description: Sego and Mariposa Lilies are perennial plants in the Calochortus genus of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). There are 7 species recognized by plant taxonomic authorities in Utah. Four of these species are included here because they are locally common plants in specific regions of Utah. Calochortus stems arise from sheathing, onion-like bulbs; are leafy, erect or sprawling, and may be straight or flexuous. They have alternate leaves that are linear or tapering to narrow tips. They have bracts that are opposite (or almost opposite) or alternate. Plants may have solitary or up to 8 flowers, depending on the species. The sepals are slender and vary in color, shape, and texture. Flower petals are showy; vary in color from white to yellow to pink with yellow, green, and purple fields, stripes, and blotches (see photos). Petals are glandular at the base. Flowering occurs from spring into the summer. Sego and Mariposa Lilies bear small, black, angular seeds in capsules. Distribution and Habitat: Sego and Mariposa Lilies are found in all areas of Utah from blackbrush to aspen communities at elevations from 2,900’-10,000’ depending on the species. Sego Lily is found in all Utah counties; Golden Mariposa is found in Garfield, Kane, San Juan, Washington, and Wayne; Gunnison’s Mariposa is found in Carbon, Duchesne, Grand, San Juan, Uintah, and Wayne; and Weakstem Mariposa is found in Beaver, Garfield, Kane, Millard, San Juan, and Washington. General Information: Sego Lily is the State Flower of Utah. The bulbs are edible and were used for food by Native Americans and pioneers. Species Referenced: C. aureus S. Wats. - Golden Mariposa CAAU8 C. gunnisonii S. Watson - Gunnison’s Mariposa CAGU C. flexuosus S. Wats. - Weakstem Mariposa CAFL C. nuttallii Torr. & Gray - Sego Lily CANU3 119

LILIACEAE

CALOC


Blue Camas (Camassia quamash)

Above: © 2008 George W. Hartwell

© Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database Right: © 2008 Trent M. Draper © Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above and right: © 2005 Steve Matson

Above: © 2008 Trent M. Draper


Blue Camas

Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene CAQU2

Distribution and Habitat: Blue Camas is commonly found in mountain grassland and prairie meadow communities. It grows on sites that are moist to wet in spring but dry by late spring or summer. It is commonly found near vernal pools, springs, and intermittent streams. It occurs in Utah at 6,240’ -7,950’ and is shade intolerant. In forested areas, it is found only in open sites created by disturbance. It is commonly found on moist acidic soil with good drainage. It is found in sagebrush, oak-maple, aspen and grass-forb communities in Box Elder, Cache, Davis Summit, Wasatch and Weber counties in Utah. It is common from British Columbia and Alberta to California, Idaho, and Wyoming. General Information: Blue Camas was important as a food staple for Indians of the Pacific Northwest. Conflicts between tribes over harvest rights have been reported. Camas was harvested in large quantities and stored for winter use. Bulbs were eaten raw or cooked year-round.

120

LILIACEAE

Description: Blue Camas, also called Small Camas or Quamash, is a perennial, native, herbaceous member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). Blue Camas plants arise from seeds or bulbs, are erect, and 12”-28” tall. Plants have 3-6 leaves which are basal, flat, 4”-16” long and <1” wide. Flower clusters are 3”-10” long and flowers are blue or white in color. Flowering occurs from May to July. Fruits are 3-celled capsules with 5-10 seeds per cell.


Below: © Gary Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Below: © Nevada Native Plant Society, courtesy of Margaret Williams @ USDANRCS PLANTS Database

Yellow Avalanche-lily (Erythronium grandiflorum)


Yellow Avalanche-lily Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh

Description: Yellow Avalanche-lily, also called Dogtooth Violet is a native, perennial plant in the Lily Family (Liliaceae). It has bulbous corms (short, solid, vertical, underground stems with thin papery leaves) up to about ¾” thick and tapering upward. The corms are buried from 3”-7½” below ground. Plants have 2 leaves with blades 3”-7⅞” long and ⅜”-2” wide. Leaves blades are lance-shaped to elliptic, oblong, or inversely lance-shaped. Flowers are yellow, solitary or in 2- to 4-flower groups in a bractless raceme. Flower stalks (pedicels) are ¾”-4¾” or more long and curved backward below the flowers when flowering and longer and erect when in fruit. The sepal and petal segments of the flowers are ¾”1⅜” long up to about ¼” wide, narrowly lance-shaped, and spreading to bent downward when the flowers are fully open and functioning. Stamens extend outward beyond the corolla and anthers are up to ½” long and reddish or purplish. Fruits are capsules that are ¾”-1⅝” long and ellipsoid (elliptic in length and circular in cross-section) to inversely egg-shaped. Plants begin to flower in early spring (March to June or July depending on elevation). Distribution and Habitat: Yellow Avalanche-lily is found in foothills sagebrush, serviceberry, bigtooth maple, Gambel oak, and grass-forb meadows in aspen-lodgepole pine-spruce-fir communities at 5,500’-10,200’ in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties as well as from British Columbia and Alberta to California and Colorado. General Information: Yellow Avalanche-lily produces fragrant, delicate, yellow flowers in early spring as it blooms on a few feet from receding snowfields.

121

LILIACEAE

ERGR9


Feathery False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosum)

© 2010 Louis-M. Landry

Right: Jennifer Anderson @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Right: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database © 2010 Louis-M. Landry

Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Starry False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) Left and right: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Left: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Left and right: © 2010 Louis-M. Landry


False Solomon’s Seal Maianthemum spp. F.H. Wigg.

Description: Feathery False Solomon’s Seal, also called Feather False Lily of the Valley, and Starry False Solomon’s Seal, also called Starry False Lily of the Valley or Stellate Smilacina, are native, perennial rhizomatous herbaceous herbs in the Lily Family (Liliaceae). Stems are erect or reclining with tips directed upward, simple and 12”-39” and 2”-20” in length respectively. Leaves are 5-9 per stem, alternate, many-nerved, and sessile or clasping. Leaf blades are 2”-7⅞” long and pubescent to glabrous on the underneath side, and minutely hairy fringes along the margins of Feathery False Solomon’s Seal leaf blades. Flowers are in terminal racemes in Feathery False Solomon Seal and in panicles in Starry False Solomon’s Seal. The flower perianths (calyx and corolla) have 6 separate segments, are white or greenish white, and are distinct or nearly so. Flowers of both species have 6 stamens, and 3-chambered ovaries. The fruits are mottled, spherical berries that are up to ¼” in diameter, and that turn red at maturity. Flowering occurs from May through July. Distribution and Habitat: Feathery False Solomon’s Seal is found in oak-maple, pinyon-juniper, Douglas fir, limber pine, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 4,500’10,600’ and is reported to occur in all Utah counties except Beaver, Emery, Garfield, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Tooele, and Wayne. Starry False Solomon’s Seal is found in moist areas and various plant communities at 3,700’-10,220’ and reported in all Utah counties. Both are widespread in North America. General Information: The young greens, fleshy rhizomes, and the ripe berries of Feathery False Solomon’s Seal were all eaten by Indians in various parts of Washington. The cooked rhizomes were also utilized as a poultice. Species Referenced: M. racemosum (L.) Link - Feathery False Solomon’s Seal MARA7 M. stellatum (L.) Link – Starry False Solomon’s Seal MAST4 122

LILIACEAE

MAIAN


Left: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

False Hellebore (Veratrum californicum) Left: © 2009 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Above: © 2006 Steve Matson Below: © 2007 Steve Matson

Above: © Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


False Hellebore

Veratrum californicum Durand VECA2

Distribution and Habitat: False Hellebore grows in dense colonies in mountainous areas where moist conditions exist. It is commonly found in meadows and along stream banks in grass-forb, aspen, mixed-conifer and spruce-fir communities at 6,000’-10,500’ or more. Specimens have been collected in all Utah counties except Carbon, Daggett, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, and Wayne. It is found from Washington to Montana, south to California, New Mexico, and Mexico. General Information: False Hellebore contains teratogens, which are toxic alkaloids that cause fetal death or deformity. Over 50 complex alkaloids have been identified from Veratrum species and some of these have been used as hypotensive drugs. False Hellebore is the classic teratogen, causing pregnant ewes that ingest it on the 14th day of gestation to produce a lamb that has a single eye located in the center of its head (cyclopia). If False Hellebore is eaten later in gestation (30th-35th day) other abnormalities such as shortened legs may develop. Embryonic death in lambs may also occur. False Hellebore poisoning mostly occurs in sheep, but may also occur in cattle, goats, and llamas.

123

LILIACEAE

Description: False Hellebore, also called Skunk Cabbage, is a native, tall, stout, leafy, poisonous, perennial herb growing from stout rhizomes. It is a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). It is single-stemmed and 1’-8’ tall. Leaves are numerous, 3”-12” long and 2”-8” wide, sheathing basally and smaller toward the top. Flower clusters are erect, spreading panicles 8”-24” long with many flowers. Individual flowers are attached directly to the panicle branch or with very short stalks. Sepals and petals are greenish-yellow to white.


Right: Š 2009 Gary A. Monroe Larry D. Ellicott, Gilbert, AZ

Foothill Deathcamas (Zigadenus paniculatus) Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above and right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Right: Š 2008 Steve Matson


Foothill Deathcamas Zigadenus paniculatus (Nuttall) S. Watson

Description: Foothill Deathcamas is a native, perennial, bulbous, poisonous herb and a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). Plants are 8”-28” tall, with an underground scaly bulb. The bulbs lack an onion odor. Growth begins very early in the spring before most other plants. Plants have 5 or 6 leaves mostly below the stem middle. Leaves are sheathing, smooth, thickened, V-creased and 4”-14” long with a grass-like appearance. Leaves are smaller toward the top of the stem. Flowers are white to yellowish and borne on the stem in terminal panicles in early summer. The flowers have orange stamens that give them a soft, lacy quality. Plants generally flower April to July, depending on elevation. Reproduction is by seed. Rough brown seeds are formed in a 3-celled capsule, which is especially poisonous. Distribution and Habitat: Foothill Deathcamas is most abundant in foothill areas in warm desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, oak-maple, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and grassland communities and is often found growing with wild onion. It occurs at 2,760’-8,725’ in all Utah counties and all 11 western states from Washington to Montana south to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. General Information: Foothill Deathcamas is one of 15 species of deathcamas that occur in North America. All parts of the plant are toxic and the principal toxins in Deathcamas species are steroidal alkaloids. Sheep are most frequently poisoned by Deathcamas but cattle, horses, and pigs are also affected. Humans are known to have been poisoned by Deathcamas when Deathcamas bulbs were mistaken for other bulb plants such as Wild Onion (Allium spp.), Blue Camas (Camassia spp.), or Sego Lily (Calochortus spp.).

124

LILIACEAE

ZIPA2


Left: Clarence A. Rechenthin @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above: Š 2001 Larry Blakely

Above, below, right, and inset right below: Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii)

Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Steve Hurst @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


Lewis Flax

Linum lewisii Pursh LILE3

Distribution and Habitat: Lewis Flax is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, Douglas fir, aspen, lodgepole pine and spruce-fir communities at 4,500’-9,500’ in all Utah counties and most of North America. General Information: Lewis Flax occurs in gravelly or rocky soils from valleys to alpine. It is adapted to dry soils, growing in a broad range of soil types. It was first named Lewis Flax for Captain Meriwether Lewis of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition. It has fair forage value for both livestock and wildlife during spring and winter. Birds use the seeds and capsules in fall and winter. It is commonly used in revegetation efforts. The seeds are very nutritious and edible cooked and have a pleasant, nutty taste. The plant has been used for numerous medicinal purposes: anti-rheumatic, burn treatment, anti-diarrheal, and numerous other purposes. A good fiber is obtained from the stem which is used from making cloth, nets, string, baskets, mats, and in paper making. 125

LINACEAE

Description: Lewis Flax, also called Blue Flax, is a short-lived perennial, semievergreen forb that is a member of the Flax Family (Linaceae). It has a semi-woody base and long taproot. It has many delicate, wiry stems 2’ -3’ tall. Growth begins in early spring and flowers appear in mid-May through August. Leaves grow to about 18” up the plant. It has many narrow, small, alternate (rarely opposite) leaves that are sessile (lacking stalks) on the stems. Leaves are long (up to 1”) and gray-green in color. They are 1-nerved, pointed to rounded, and slightly smaller upwards on the stem. Flowers are attractive, delicate, striking blue, and appear at the end of nodding stalks. Flowers are perfect and borne in racemes or cymes and may be up to 1” wide. The sepals, petals, stigmas, and stamens are in multiples of 5. Fruit capsules contain 10 seeds which are slippery when wet. Flowers close each evening and open again in the morning.


Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org

Left: © 2005 Louis-M. Landry

Below: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Left: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) © 2007 Louis-M. Landry

Above: © Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria L.

LYSA2 Description: Purple Loosestrife is an introduced, perennial, herbaceous plant in the Loosestrife Family (Lythraceae). Plants are erect, up to 8’ or more tall, and develop a strong taproot that may produce up to 50 stems. Stems are 4-angled and may be smooth or hairy. Leaves are attached directly to the stems (sessile), opposite or whorled, 1”-4” long and up to ½” wide, and lance-shaped with rounded or heart-shaped bases. Leaf surfaces are hairy and leaf margins are entire. Plants have many inflorescences which are spike-like and 4”-16” long. The sepals (calyx) and petals (corolla) of individual flowers are fused to form a hypanthium (trumpet-like flower) that is cylindrical, up to ¼” long, greenish, and 8-12 nerved. There are usually 6 narrow calyx lobes that are about half the length of the petals. The corollas have 5 to 7 petals, are rose-purple, and up to about 1” wide. Each flower usually has 12 stamens and the length of the stamens may vary by flower. Flowering occurs in July to September or October and fruits are capsules.

General Information: Purple Loosestrife was introduced by European immigrants for its ornamental and medicinal values in treating diarrhea, dysentery, bleeding wounds, ulcers, and sores. It is highly invasive and a threat to displace desirable species in wetland habitats. It is listed as a noxious weed in 33 states.

126

LYTHRACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Purple Loosestrife is found in moist areas along roadsides, ditch banks, marshes, and wetlands at 4,500’-6,800’ in Cache, Davis, Emery, Juab, Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties. It is widespread in North America. It often forms dense, impenetrable stands in wet areas.


Oregon Checkermallow (Sidalcea oregana)

Left and above: Š 2008 George W. Hartwell

Above, right, below, and top middle: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Oregon Checkermallow Sidalcea oregana (Nuttall) A. Gray

Description: Oregon Checkermallow is a native, perennial herbaceous taprooted plant that is a member of the Mallow Family (Malvaceae). Stems are 12”-40+” tall and can be smooth or with star-shaped hairs flat against the stem surface. Leaves are 1”-7” wide with the basal leaves shallowly 5-7 lobed and with coarsely rounded teeth. Leaves along the stem are deeply lobed, with 3-7 coarsely toothed to entire lobes. Short-stalked, pale lavender-pink colored flowers are borne in an unbranched, elongated cluster of flowers (terminal spike). Some flowers are bisexual, while in others, the anthers are sterile or lacking. It has a 5-lobed, hairy calyx and 5 separate, oblong, shallowly bilobed petals that are ⅔”-¾” long. It flowers from the end of June until the middle of August and fruit is set in late August. The fruit is a small, flattened, round capsule with many sections, giving it the appearance of a peeled orange. Seeds have a honeycomb pattern. Distribution and Habitat: Oregon Checkermallow grows best in full sun, but is not drought tolerant. It is often found in meadows, streambanks, sagebrush plains, aspen, and open woods at 5,460’-8,900’ in Cache, Davis, Juab, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Wasatch, and Weber counties in Utah. It occurs from British Columbia to California, Nevada and Utah, and in New York. General Information: Oregon Checkermallow flowers look like small hollyhock flowers.

127

MALVACEAE

SIOR


Below: Joy Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org

Scarlet Globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)

Above: Š Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Gooseberryleaf Globemallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia)

Below: Š 2006 James M. Andre

Above, below, and left bottom: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Globemallow

Sphaeralcea spp. A. St.-Hil. Description: There are 14 species of Globemallow in Utah. Scarlet and Gooseberryleaf Globemallow are the most common and widely distributed of these. Both are perennials producing few to many stems from woody bases (caudices) and stout taproots, or occasionally from creeping rhizomes. Scarlet stems range in height from 2”-17” while Gooseberryleaf stems reach 14”-30.” Stems appear white to gray for both species due to a covering of fine white or gray hairs. Leaves are alternate along the stems. Leave blades are egg-shaped or heart/egg-shaped. Scarlet leaf blades are ½”-1½” long and wider than long while Gooseberryleaf blades are ½”-2” wide and longer than wide to wider than long. Leaf blades are 3-5-lobed with main divisions toothed or lobed again in Scarlet. Lobes are usually lobed again or irregularly toothed in Gooseberryleaf. In Scarlet, flower clusters are borne as branched or unbranched stalks (racemes) while in Gooseberryleaf, flower clusters are borne as compact panicles with flat- or round-topped paniculate sub-branches. Flowers are generally solitary at the nodes in Scarlet with usually more than one flower per node in Gooseberryleaf. Flowers are orange in both species or rarely rose-pink. In both species the calyces at the base of the petals are covered with star-shaped hairs. Distribution and Habitat: Scarlet Globemallow is found in desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, and ponderosa pine communities at 3,000’-11,000’ in all Utah counties. Gooseberryleaf is found in warm desert, pinyon-juniper, and ponderosa pine communities at 2,600’-9,000’ in all Utah counties except Daggett, Davis, Morgan, and Weber. General Information: Both Scarlet and Gooseberryleaf Globemallow are drought resistant and provide desirable forage for wildlife and livestock. Species Referenced: S. coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb. – Scarlet Globemallow SPCO S. grossulariifolia (Hook. & Arn.) Rydb. – Gooseberryleaf Globemallow SPGR2 128

MALVACEAE

SPHAE


Below: © 2005 James M. Andre

Above, far left, and left: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers. com

Fragrant Sand Verbena (Abronia fragrans)

Above: © 2006 James M. Andre

Left: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com


Fragrant Sand Verbena Abronia fragrans Nutt. ex Hook.

Description: Fragrant Sand Verbena, also called Sweet Sand Verbena and Snowball Sand Verbena, is a native, short-lived to long-lived perennial plant in the Four –o’clock Family (Nyctaginaceae). Plants arise from a taproot with a well developed woody base, or occasionally plants are rhizomatous. Stems are decumbent to ascending or erect, variable in thickness, 7”-31” long, smooth, and covered with a whitish to bluish waxy coating to densely glandular-hairy below or entirely, and green to straw-colored to reddish tinged or rarely tinted purple. Leaf blades are ⅓”-3½” long and up to 1½” wide, lance-shaped to egg-shaped, oval, linearly lanceshaped, narrowly oblong, and entire. Leaf blades are tapered to a point to rounded, smooth or hairy, and thin to thick. Flower stalks are ¾”-7” long, covered with minute hair to glandular or with long, soft, shaggy but unmatted hairy (villous), and are rounded or cone-shaped where the flowers are borne. Flower bracts are up to 1” long and ½” wide, eggshaped to lance-shaped, inversely egg-shaped, or elliptic, and minutely hairy to glandular villous. There are 25-80 trumpet-shaped flowers per dense, flower cluster. Flowers are white to pinkish, fragrant, and ⅜”-1” long. Petals are lobed and flared at the end. Flowering occurs from May through August. Fruits are achenes, and seeds may or may not be winged. If winged, wings are thick and not continuous around the entire achene. Distribution and Habitat: Fragrant Sand Verbena is found in creosote bush, blackbrush, resinbushephedra, shadscale, mixed desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, and ponderosa pine communities in various soils but often in sand at 2,460’-8,200’ in all Utah counties except Morgan and Rich where it has not been recorded. It is found from Montana to South Dakota and south to Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and into Mexico. General Information: Fragrant Sand Verbena is reported to have been used by Native Americans to treat bowel and stomach problems. 129

NYCTAGINACEAE

ABFR2


Colorado Four-o’clock (Mirabilis multiflora)

Above, below, and right: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: © 2004 James M. Andre

Below: © 2010 Gary A. Monroe

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Colorado Four-o’clock

Mirabilis multiflora (Torr.) A. Gray Description: Colorado Four-o’clock is a native, long-lived, clump-forming perennial plant in the Four-o’clock Family (Nyctaginaceae). Stems are 12”-36” long and plants are as broad as or broader than they are tall, radiating from a caudex (persistent, woody base), reclining on the ground with tips curved upward or tapering upward. Leaves are dark green or covered with a whitish or bluish waxy coating, with fine short hairs to smooth and hairless. Leaves have short stems with blades that are mainly 1”-4” long and about as broad, round to egg-shaped and often with a pointed tip. Flower clusters are borne on peduncles (cluster stems) up to 3” long and individual flowers are borne on short pedicels (flower stems) up to almost 1” long. Flowers are pink-purple in color, 1½”-2½” long, and tube- or funnel-shaped. Flowering occurs from May through July. Fruits are dark brown, about ⅛” long, tapering from the middle to both the base and the tip. Distribution and Habitat: Colorado Four-o’clock is found in creosote bush, blackbrush, and pinyon-juniper communities at elevations from 2,470’-7,750’ in Carbon, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, Washington, and Wayne counties as well as from Texas to California and Colorado and Utah south into Mexico. General Information: Colorado Four-o’clock does well under cultivation and is used in landscaping. Flowers open in late afternoon.

130

NYCTAGINACEAE

MIMU


Eastwood’s Camissonia (Camissonia eastwoodiae)

Left and above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above: © Alan J. Hahn

Left and above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Eastwood’s Camissonia Camissonia eastwoodiae (Munz) P.H. Raven

Description: Eastwood’s Camissonia, also called Grand Junction Camissonia, is a native, annual, herbaceous plant in the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae). Stems that are simple or branched from the base arise from taproots, are mainly 2”-15¾” tall, and produce leaves on the lower portion. Foliage tends to be smooth but may be glandular or minutely hairy with fine, short hairs. Leaves have petioles and the blades are simple, entire or irregularly toothed. Leaf blades are about 2⅓” long and ¼”1½” wide. Flowers are conspicuous, numerous, and borne in terminal nodding stalks (racemes). Individual flower stalks are slender and up to about ¾” long. Each flower has a hypanthium (a cup-shaped extension of the flower) located at the base of the flower that encompasses the pistil, and that may be from ⅛”-⅓” long. Sepals are spreading and bent backward, and up to about ⅓” long, with some sticking together at the tips. Petals are about ¼”-⅝” long and yellow with red spots, fading to cream-colored or white. Fruits are capsules from ¾”-1⅝” long. Distribution and Habitat: Eastwood’s Camissonia is found in mat saltbush, shadscale, blackbrush, and juniper communities at 3,900’-5,900’ in Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, San Juan, and Wayne counties. It has also been documented to occur in Delta and Grand counties in Western Colorado and in Coconino and Apache counties in Northern Arizona. General Information: Eastwood’s Camissonia is a Colorado Plateau endemic found mainly on Cretaceous Bluegate and Tununk Members of the Mancos Shale Formation and on Tropic Shale. It is often abundant in years with appropriate rainfall.

131

ONAGRACEAE

CAEA


Below: William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org

© Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left: © 2001 George W. Hartwell

Left and above: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org


Fireweed

Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub Description: Fireweed is a perennial native herb in the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae). It is 2’-8’ tall, growing from rhizome-like roots that bear buds. The stems are usually not branched, often purplish, erect or declining along the ground but curving upward, and smooth below and minutely hairy on the upper stem. Leaves alternate up the stem and are linear, lance-shaped and narrowing near the stem, or shaped like a narrow oval. Leaf margins are entire. Flowers have an inferior ovary and are formed from a cup-shaped union of the basal part of the calyx (sepals), the corolla (petals), and the stamens called a hypanthium. Petals vary in color from pink-purple, pink, or rarely white. Seeds are produced in a 4-sided, 4-celled capsule. The capsule is often purplish and up to 3” long, and contains 300-500 seeds. Seeds have a tuft of long hair on one end. The buds, flowers, and mature fruit can appear on the same plant. Distribution and Habitat: Fireweed is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, Douglas fir, aspen, lodgepole pine and spruce-fir communities at 4,960’-11,800’ and specimens have been collected in all Utah counties except Carbon, Daggett, Morgan, and Kane. Fireweed is widespread in North America. General Information: Fireweed occurs in open woods and along streams. Fireweed is well adapted to disturbed areas such as cut-over or burned forests and swamps, avalanche chutes, river bars, and areas where glaciers recently receded. Additional disturbed sites are highway and railroad rightsof-way, waste places, and old fields. Fireweed is especially abundant following fire, and is adapted to dry and moist soils. Fireweed provides fair to good forage for sheep, and poor to fair forage for cattle. Fireweed is grazed to a minor extent by horses, deer, and elk. Young shoots can be cooked like asparagus while young leaves can be used in salads and steeped for tea. The pith of the stem can be used to flavor and thicken stews and soups. Fireweed is an important honey plant. 132

ONAGRACEAE

CHAN9


Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp.)

Above (© 2004) and below (© 2005): Yellow Evening Primrose (O. flava), © Steve Matson

Above: Pale Evening Primrose (O. pallida), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Tufted Evening Primrose (O. caespitosa), © Thomas G. Barnes @ University of Kentucky

Above: Desert Evening Primrose (O. primiveris), © 2005 James M. Andre

Above: Tufted Evening Primrose (O. caespitosa), © 2011 Steve Matson


Evening Primrose Oenothera spp. L.

Description: Evening Primroses are perennial or annual, native herbs from taproots and members of the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae). Tufted and Yellow Evening Primrose are stemless or with stems so short that all leaves are apparently basal and spreading, and rarely with stems to 24” long. Pale Evening Primrose has stems that are 4”-30” tall. Their leaves are alternate or basal. Flowers may be pink, white, cream, or lavender. They do not have supporting stalks, are typically attached in leaf or bract axils, are fragrant, and open in evening (pollinated by moths). Desert Evening Primrose is an annual evening primrose that is yellow. Members of the Evening Primrose Family have flowers with a cup-shaped extension of the floral axis called a hypanthium that is formed from the union of the sepals, petals, and stamens, commonly surrounding or enclosing the pistils. Distribution and Habitat: Evening Primrose species are widespread and some species are found in various habitats from creosotebush, Joshua tree, shadscale, greasewood, blackbrush, salt desert shrub, sagebrush, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, aspen and spruce-fir communities at 3,650’-11,000’ or more across Utah and from Washington to South Dakota, south to California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. General Information: Evening Primroses are beautiful species that are common except at the highest elevations. Species Referenced: O. caespitosa Nuttall - Tufted Evening Primrose OECA10 O. flava (A. Nelson) Garrett - Yellow Evening Primrose OEFL O. pallida Lindley - Pale Evening Primrose OEPA O. primiveris A. Gray – Desert Evening Primrose OEPR 133

ONAGRACEAE

OENOT


Prickly-poppy (Argemone munita ssp. rotundata)

Right: USDI BLM Utah @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database Above and right: © 2009 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Above and below: © 2008 Steve Matson

Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Prickly-poppy

Argemone munita Durand & Hilg. ssp. rotundata (Rydb.) G.B. Ownbey ARMUR

Distribution and Habitat: Prickly-poppy is found in creosote bush-Joshua tree, blackbrush, mixed desert shrub, and pinyon-juniper communities at elevations from 2,500’-7,500’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Garfield, Juab, Iron, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties. It is also found in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. General Information: Prickly-poppy blooms in early summer or for much of the year in southern Utah. The flowers are remarkably beautiful and fragrant. Fresh stems exude a yellow sap when broken. Prickly-poppy has been used in folk medicine to make eye drops, purgatives, and antiseptics. Some reports indicate that the plant is highly toxic and that many deaths have been attributed to misuse. Others make no mention of toxicity. 134

PAPAVERACEAE

Description: Prickly-poppy, also called Flatbud Pricklypoppy and Armed Pricklypoppy, is a native, annual or sometimes perennial plant in the Poppy Family (Papaveraceae). Plants are 16”-40” tall, moderately branched, and often purplish. Leaves are often covered with a whitish or bluish waxy coating on both top and underneath surfaces, and are 1”-6” long, lance-shaped attached at the narrow end (oblanceolate) or egg-shaped attached at the narrow end (obovate), with broad round lobes. The depressions between lobes are shallow or extending more than half way to the midrib and armed with uneven-sized prickles on veins and intervening areas. Sepal points are usually very prickly, at least at the base. Flowers are 2¾”-5” wide, with white petals that are obovate (egg-shaped attached at the narrow end) or wedge-shaped. Stamens are yellow, almost equal to the ovary in length, and stigmas are purple. Fruits are egg-shaped or elliptic capsules that are armed with straight or incurved spines interspersed with smaller spines or prickles. Seeds are small.


Below: Woolly Plantain (P. patagonica), Right: Common Plantain (P. major), © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left: Narrowleaf Plantain (P. lanceolata) © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Left: Narrowleaf Plantain (P. lanceolata), Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Right: Woolly Plantain (P. patagonica), © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Plantain (Plantago spp.)

Left: Common Plantain (P. major), Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft,. Bugwood. org

Woolly Plantain (P. patagonica) © 2004 James M. Andre


Plantain

Plantago spp. L. Description: Narrowleaf Plantain and Common Plantain are introduced, usually perennial herbs in the Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae) while Woolly Plantain is a native, annual in this genus. Plantains are short-stemmed or without stems. Leaves are all basal or nearly so, and flowers are sympetalous (petals united, at least near the base), small, perfect or imperfect, regular, borne in bracteate spikes or in heads. Flowers have 4 sepals and corollas are thin, dry, and membranous (scarious), and 4-lobed. Fruit are capsules dehiscing so that the top opens like a lid. Distribution and Habitat: Narrowleaf Plantain is a widely distributed weedy plant that occurs in numerous vegetation types from 2,600’-10,400’ and has been reported to occur in all Utah Counties except Cache, Daggett, Emery, Iron, Kane, Morgan, Piute, Wayne, and Weber counties. Common Plantain is a widespread weedy species of lawns, fields, roadsides, and other disturbed sites at 2,600’-8,900’, and has been reported in all Utah counties except Emery, Iron, Juab, Millard, Summit, and Weber counties. Woolly Plantain is a desert annual found at elevations from 2,800’7,000’ that has been collected and reported in all Utah counties except Iron, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Sanpete, Summit, Tooele, and Wasatch counties. General Information: Young Common Plantain leaves are edible and nutritious. Seeds may be dried and ground into meal for use in baking. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and K. The leaves and juice have been widely used to treat insect bites, rashes, sunburn, blisters, burns, and cuts. In Latin America it is a folk remedy for cancer. Species Referenced: P. lanceolata L. - Narrowleaf Plantain PLLA P. major L. – Common Plantain PLMA2 P. patagonica Jacq. – Woolly Plantain PLPA2 135

PLANTAGINACEAE

PLANT


Below: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Above and right: © 2010 Keir Morse, www. keiriosity.com

Below: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)

Above: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.com

Left: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.com


Scarlet Gilia

Ipomopsis aggregata (Pursh) V.E. Grant. Description: Scarlet Gilia, also called Fairy Trumpet or Skyrocket, is a native, biennial or sometimes perennial plant in the Phlox Family (Polemoniaceae). Stems have a strong, disagreeable odor that smells like a skunk and arise from a basal rosette with a taproot. The leaves are deeply lobed or twice deeply lobed, and up to 2” long. Stems range from 4”-40” tall, are stalk-glandular or with crinkly, whitish hairs, and have cauline leaves (leaves arising from the stem) that are smaller upward on the stem. Brilliant red, scarlet, pink, salmon, bluish, or white flowers that are sometimes spotted are borne on short pedicels in a compact, cylindrical, or ovate panicle with paired branches coming off the stem at right angles. The corolla (all petals collectively) ranges from <½”-2” in length. The fruit, which is a capsule, is about ⅓” long. Flowering begins in June at the lower elevations. Distribution and Habitat: Scarlet Gilia is found in mixed desert shrub, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 5,000’-10,600’ in all Utah counties. It also occurs from Texas to California as well as in Colorado and Wyoming. General Information: The species name, aggregata, is reported to refer to the way the flowers are clustered. Scarlet Gilia is said to be a favorite plant with hummingbirds.

136

POLEMONIACEAE

IPAG


Below: Mountain Phlox (P. austromontana ssp. austromonta), © G.A. Cooper @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above: Hood Phlox (P. hoodii), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Left: Mound Phlox (P. griseola var. tumulosa), Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University

Below: Musk Phlox (P. hoodii ssp. muscoides), © 2006 James M. Andre

Below: Longleaf Phlox (P. longifolia), Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Phlox (Phlox spp.) Above: Phlox Flower (P. longifolia), © 2009, Gary A. Monroe

Above Phlox leaves (P. longifolia), © 2008 Steve Matson

Right: Phlox Flower (P. longifolia), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Phlox

Phlox spp. L.

Description: Phlox species are perennial herbs in the Phlox Family (Polemoniaceae). The stems may be erect, prostrate, decumbent, or ascending. Leaves are opposite, simple, and entire. Flowers are showy in paniculate flat- or round-topped clusters, or they may be solitary. The calyx is 5-lobed and 5-ribbed and with thin, dry, margins and with thin, dry, membranes between the ribs. The corollas are slender tubes with abruptly spreading, flattened limbs, and with throats constricted. Flowers may produce 1 to several seeds per locule. Five Phlox species common in Utah are Longleaf Phlox, Mountain Phlox, Carpet Phlox, Musk Phlox, and Mound Phlox. Longleaf Phlox is erect, arising from an almost rhizomatous woody base to 16” on weak stems. It is often hairy or glandular, especially within the inflorescence. Mountain Phlox is often very short and it spreads in dense, low, tough mats. Carpet Phlox and Mound Phlox are small and compact, < 3” tall, and reproduces from seed or sprouts from spreading rootstocks after being damaged, and is cushion-like. Mound Phlox is also cushion-like or mound-like and <5“ tall. Distribution and Habitat: Plant taxonomic authorities recognize 19 species or varieties of Phlox in Utah and three are cultivated ornamentals. The native Phlox species occur in various habitats and plant communities from desert to alpine tundra and from 4,000’-11,300’ across Utah. General Information: Phlox is a Greek word for “flame”, a name given probably due to the bright flowers. An infusion of the whole plant of Longleaf Phlox was given to ‘anemic’ children by the Okanagan-Colville people. Species Referenced: P. austromontana Colville ssp. austromontana - Mtn. Phlox PHAU3 P. griseola Wherry ssp. tumulosa Wherry - Mound Phlox PHGRT P. hoodii Richardson - Carpet Phlox PHHO P. hoodii Richardson ssp. muscoides (Nutt.)Wherry - Musk Phlox PHHOM P. longifolia Nutt. - Longleaf Phlox PHLO2 137

POLEMONIACEAE

PHLOX


© Patrick J. Alexander, www.swbiodiversity.org

Left and above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Leafy Jacob’s-ladder (Polemonium foliosissimum)

© Patrick J. Alexander, www.swbiodiversity.org

Above: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org


Leafy Jacob’s-ladder

Polemonium foliosissimum A. Gray Description: Leafy Jacob’s-ladder is a native, perennial plant in the Phlox Family (Polemoniaceae). Stems up to 4’ tall, grow from a persistent woody base (caudex). Stems are erect and lack a basal tuft of leaves but are otherwise leafy throughout. Stems and leaves are light green and sparingly to densely hairy with long, soft, shaggy hairs to minutely hairy with fine, short hairs and often glandular toward the top. Leaves are mainly 1”-6” long. There are 5-25 leaflets that are lance-shaped to eggshaped, elliptic (a narrow oval, broadest in the middle and narrower at the two ends), or narrowly oblong, 3”- 26” long, and up to ½” wide with the terminal end leaflet being the largest. The terminal leaflet and the first pair of lateral leaflets blend into the rachis (axis) of the compound leaf. The flat-topped or round-topped paniculate inflorescence is positioned at the end of the stem originating in the axils of the stem and the terminal flowers bloom first. The flowers may or may not have stalks (pedicels) but are more or less compactly clustered. The whorl of sepals is up to ⅓” long at full flowering and 5 petals, united at their bases, (corolla) are up to ¾” long and as wide as or wider than they are long. Petals are white, blue-violet, or cream colored and the 5 anthers have conspicuously yellow pollen. Flowering occurs in June and July. Distribution and Habitat: Leafy Jacob’s-ladder grows in moist areas in mountain meadows and canyons, along streams and lakes, sagebrush, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, tall forb, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 6,100’-10,800’ and it is reported to occur in all Utah counties except Beaver, Daggett, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, Rich, Washington, and Wayne. General Information: Leafy Jacob’s-ladder is also called Towering Jacob’s-ladder, White Jacob’s-ladder, and Alpine Jacob’s-ladder. Flowers have a slightly skunky odor. 138

POLEMONIACEAE

POFO


Below left and below right: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

© 2009 Gary A. Monroe

Bottlestopper (Eriogonum inflatum) Right: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Above: © 2008 Steve Matson

© 2004 James M. Andre

© 2010 Steve Matson


Bottlestopper

Eriogonum inflatum Torr. & Frem. ERIN4

Distribution and Habitat: Bottlestopper occurs in blackbrush, creosote bush, Joshua tree, bursage, shadscale, rabbitbrush, ricegrass, and pinyon-juniper communities at elevations from 2,500’-5,580’ in Beaver, Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, Washington, and Wayne counties. General Information: Young stems of Bottlestopper may be eaten, raw or cooked.

139

POLYGONACEAE

Description: Bottlestopper or Desert Trumpet is a native annual or perennial herb and a member of the Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae). Plants arise from slender to stout taproots. Plants are 3”-51” tall, with erect stems. Leaves are all basal with blades that are near an inch long or smaller and as wide as or wider than they are long, circular to oblong or kidney shaped and with small coarse, stiff hairs on both sides. Blades are rounded or heart-shaped at the base with borders that are smooth to wavy. Leaf petioles are ¼”-2⅓” long. The stems and usually the branches of the flower cluster are almost always inflated. Flower clusters are flat-, convex-, or round-topped with individual flower stalks resembling struts of an umbrella. Flowers are yellow or reddish.


Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University © 2010 James M. Andre

Sulfur Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)

Above: © 2006 Steve Matson © 2011 Steve Matson

© 2010 Steve Matson

Above: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org


Sulfur Buckwheat

Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. ERUM

Distribution and Habitat: Sulfur Buckwheat occurs in sagebrush, oak-serviceberry, pinyonjuniper, Douglas fir-white fir, aspen, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir communities at 4,850’-12,000’ in elevation. Sulfur Buckwheat occurs from Canada to California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. It is found in all counties in Utah. General Information: The seeds are a food source for many species of birds and small mammals. Grouse, deer, and mountain sheep are known to eat the leaves. It can be used for environmental enhancement, erosion control and foundation plantings around homes in mountain areas. Knowledge of ethnobotanical uses of species within the genus Eriogonum is attributed to Mexican and Native American herbal traditions.

140

POLYGONACEAE

Description: Sulphur Buckwheat, also called Sulphur-flowered Buckwheat, is a native, perennial mat-forming herb or subshrub and a member of the Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae). It has persistent vegetative stems and woody branches usually clothed with persistent ashy, chestnutcolored leaves and bases. Flowering stems are leafless, 4”-24” tall and arise from rosette-like branch ends. Leaf blades are egg-shaped to oval, elliptical, lanceolate, or oblanceolate and usually <1½” long and 1” wide. Blades are flat and smooth or covered with soft, wooly hairs on one or both sides. Leaf blades have short stems usually less than ⅝” long. Flower clusters are umbrella-shaped or compound umbrellashaped and flowers are creamy white to yellow, often spread over with red or purple.


Above and below: © 2008 Steve Matson

Below & right: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Below: © J.R. Manhart, Digital Flora of Texas

Right and left: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

American Bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) Above: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org


American Bistort

Polygonum bistortoides Pursh POBI6 Description: American Bistort is an erect, perennial, native, herbaceous plant in the Buckwheat, Knotweed or Smartweed Family (Polygonaceae). It may grow to 32” tall from a thickened, bulblike base and rhizomes. It has well developed lanceolate or linear basal leaves 2”-12” long to 1½” wide, and tapered or blunt or rounded at the tip. It has numerous white to pinkish flowers borne in terminal spikelike racemes. Fruits are small and brown, shiny achenes.

General Information: American Bistort is not a preferred plant for grazers. It is a close relative of rhubarb and can be sweetened and prepared as a dessert or jam. Native Americans ate the starchy rootstalks raw; boiled in stews or soups; steeped in water, roasted or dried, and ground into flour for bread. Dried, powdered roots or extracts from roots have been used as an astringent. American Bistort roots and shoots are high in vitamin C.

141

POLYGONACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: American Bistort is found in aspen, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir communities, usually in moist meadows, at elevations from 6,700’-11,400’ in all Utah counties except Salt Lake and Davis. It occurs from British Columbia to Arizona and New Mexico.


Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org

Left: © 2005 Steve Matson

Above: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Above: © 2005 Louis-M. Landry


Curly Dock Rumex crispus L.

Description: Curly Dock is an introduced, erect, perennial herb 1½’- 4’ tall, produced from a large, deep taproot that is yellowish orange in color. It is a member of the Buckwheat or Milkwort Family (Polygonaceae). Smooth, fleshy stems die back each fall, and new ones arise each spring. Stems have swollen nodes and are often reddish in color. Curly dock leaves are blue-green, lance-shaped and are borne singly at each node along the stem from a large basal rosette that is usually produced late in the fall. Leaves are 3”-12” long, with noticeably wavy and curly edges. They decrease in size toward the top of the plant. There is a membranous sheath at the leaf base. Leaves become more reddish-purple with age. Small flowers are borne in a large, loose, branching cluster on the upper portion of the stem, and are yellowish green at first, but become rosy then reddish brown. The 6 flower parts do not look like petals. The 3 inner parts become greatly enlarged and heart-shaped surrounding the tiny fruit, and have the appearance of wings. At maturity, these wings are ⅛”-¼” long, and usually have a small thickening on the back. Curly dock generally flowers from June to October. A large, mature curly dock can produce up to 40,000 seeds (achenes) per year. Distribution and Habitat: Curly Dock is native to Eurasia and is widespread throughout North America. In Utah it most commonly occurs in roadside borrow pits, moist meadows, or along stream banks, at 2,470’-7,930’ and is found in all counties. General Information: Curly Dock contains oxalates and could cause poisoning in livestock if ingested in excess. It has been used in folk medicine and is also called Indian tobacco, based more on appearance rather than use as a tobacco substitute. Canyaigre Dock (Rumex hymenosepalus) which is found in Eastern and Southern Utah was used by Navajo weavers to make a medium brown dye. 142

POLYGONACEAE

RUCR


Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Below: © 2008 Louis-M. Landry

Above and below: © Patrick J. Alexander, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above and below: © 2009 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

Left: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org © 2009 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy


Bracken Fern

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn PTAQ Description: Bracken Fern, also knowns as Western Brackenfern, is a native perennial member of the Common Fern Family (Polypodiaceae). Plants are medium-sized to large ferns adapted to common moisture conditions [neither wet (hydric) nor dry (xeric)]. Plants arise from extensive hairy rhizomes without scales, often forming large colonies. Leaves are 24”32” long including the leaf stalk, and green or yellowish in color. Leaf blades are 8”-47” long, firm, and triangular in shape, smooth to short hairy above and long hairy beneath, 2-3 times pinnate with the end segments oblong and with continuous margins. Leaf blades are widely spreading with spore sacs along the margins.

General Information: According to some sources, young Bracken Fern fronds may be eaten raw or cooked and are reported to be best when still shaped like fiddlenecks. Other sources report that Bracken Fern is poisonous to all species of livestock and humans. It is reported to be associated with a variety of different syndromes in animals including thiamin deficiency, degeneration of the retina and blindness, hemorrhaging and bone marrow destruction, urinary bladder cancer and digestive tract cancers. All parts of the plant are reported to contain a strong carcinogen.

143

POLYPODIACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Bracken Fern occurs in moist or dry wooded areas or in clearings or open slopes in oak-mountain brush, sagebrush, pine, aspen and sprucefir communities at 5,135’-8,920’. It has been collected in Beaver, Cache, Duchesne, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber counties.


Left and below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Above: © 1998 Larry Blakely

Left & above: © 2009 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Columbian Monkshood

(Aconitum columbianum)

Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org


Columbian Monkshood ACCO4 Description: Columbian Monkshood, also called Western Monkshood, is a native perennial herb in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). It grows from tuberous roots and has simple, erect stems 20”-60” tall that are smooth on the lower reaches and hairy above with some spreading hairs, and often with glands. Stems are narrowed at or near ground level. Leaves are alternate, mostly cauline, and 2”-10” long and 2”-6” wide. Leaves are palmately divided into 3-5 lobes. The clefts on each side of the terminal lobe extend almost to the base of the leaf and the terminal lobe is 1”-4” or more long. Flowers are perfect, irregular, large and showy, and borne on terminal racemes or panicles. The 5 petal-like sepals are mostly a deep bluish purple but rarely white, yellowish, or green. The upper sepal is large and forms a helmet-like hood that is ½”-1” high. The lateral sepals are oval shaped and are like parallel wings that are broader than the lower 2 sepals. The flowers have 2 petals that are enclosed within the hood. Fruits are dry and dehiscent structures (follicles) composed of a single carpel that opens along one side like a milkweed pod. Flowering occurs from June through September. Distribution and Habitat: Columbian Monkshood grows along streams and in shade in oak, maple, sagebrush, aspen, hairgrass-sedge, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir communities at 6,500’-11,000’ in all Utah counties. It also occurs from British Columbia to California and east to South Dakota and Iowa. General Information: Columbian Monkshood is highly toxic and closely resembles Tall Larkspur. The principal toxins it contains are diterpenoid alkaloids which are found in all parts of the plant – roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. New leaves contain especially high concentrations of the toxins.

144

RANUNCULACEAE

Aconitum columbianum Nutt.


Below: © 2006 Louis-M. Landry

Red Baneberry Above: © 2011 Kaytlyn Pratt

(Actaea rubra)

Above: © 2007 Louis-M. Landry Right: © 2003 Steve Matson

Above: © 2006 Louis-M. Landry

Below: © 2010 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Left: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org


Red Baneberry

ACRU2 Description: Red Baneberry is a member of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). It is a native, perennial, deciduous herb that may grow to 40” tall. It blooms from May to July and flowers have small white petals, showy stamens, and a rose-like fragrance. Flowers are borne in a terminal or axillary raceme that develops into a cluster of slightly flattened, shiny, red or white ¼” berries. Leaves are large, sharply toothed, and twice ternately compound (in threes). The entire plant is slightly hairy. Distribution and Habitat: Red Baneberry occurs at 6,500’-10,000’ in forested areas. It grows well on moist, fertile, organic soils and in shade in mountain brush, willowbirch, aspen, Douglas fir, limber pine, and spruce-fir communities. It is reported to occur in all Utah counties except Iron, Kane, Millard, Morgan, and Rich. General Information: The entire Red Baneberry plant is toxic if consumed as food but the berries are the most toxic part of the plant. Red Baneberry contains the glycoside ranunculin and other unidentified irritant compounds. Some advanced clinical herbalists find Baneberry useful as a strong antispasmodic. Native Americans in Alberta and British Columbia used a weak decoction (tea) made from the roots as a stimulant in treating colds, arthritis, syphilis, rheumatism, and emaciation. They also chewed leaves and used them for a dressing on boils and wounds. Red Baneberry should be used with extreme care, as it may cause cardiac arrest if consumed in large enough quantities.

145

RANUNCULACEAE

Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd.


Colorado Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea) © 2008 Trent M. Draper

Above: Manfred Mielke, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Right and below: © 2012 Gary A. Monroe

Right: © G. A. Cooper @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Right: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org


Colorado Columbine AQCO Description: Colorado Columbine is a bushy, clump-forming, native, perennial herb and a member of the Buttercup or Crowfoot Family (Ranunculaceae). Plants are 6”-40” tall with stems that are smooth to minutely hairy below and glandular-hairy or hairy with short stiff hairs above. The leaves are mainly basal, 2”-16” long and doubly (or occasionally triply) composed of 3 leaflets. The leaf blades are smooth or slightly hairy and paler on the underside. Leaf stalks are 2”-8” long with leaflet stalks usually <2” long. Plants may have one to several erect, pale blue to white, or occasionally pink, flowers. Flowers have 5 sepals that are perpendicular to the flower stalk, white, blue, or sometimes pink, and narrowly egg-shaped to elongated egg-shaped. Flowers have 5 petals that are colored like the sepals. Flower spurs are 1”-3” long and stamens are <1” long and often bi-colored. Distribution and Habitat: Colorado Columbine is found in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, aspen, Douglas fir-white fir, aspen-tall forb, spruce-fir, and alpine tundra communities at 5,400’-11,900’ in all Utah counties and from Canada to mountainous areas of Arizona and New Mexico. The beautiful pale-flowered (white) phase of Colorado Columbine (AQCOO) is common in Utah aspen communities. General Information: Colorado Columbine is the State Flower of Colorado. Columbine species were used medicinally in Europe, and children have reportedly died from overdoses of seeds. Some North American tribes rubbed the seeds in their hair to control lice. Columbine flower spurs are fragrant nectaries that attract hummingbirds and long-tongued insects such as hawk moths. Species Referenced: A. coerulea James AQCO (Blue phase) A. coerulea James var. ochroleuca Hook. AQCOO (White phase) 146

RANUNCULACEAE

Aquilegia coerulea James


Below: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Above: © 2008 Trent M. Draper

Below: © 2006 Steve Matson

Below: © 2008 Trent M. Draper

White Marsh Marigold Right: © 2010 Steve Matson

(Caltha leptosepala)

Below: © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Above: © 2006 Steve Matson


White Marsh Marigold CALE4 Description: White Marsh Marigold is a native, perennial, erect plant in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). Plants grow from a thick crown above fleshy roots and are 2”-21” tall. Basal leaves are 1½”-12” long with petioles ¾”-9” and blades >½”-2” long (from the point on the petiole that the blade begins to tip) and ½”-2” wide. Leaf blades are smooth, egg-shaped to oblong heart-shaped and with rounded teeth to entire margins. Stems usually have only one leaf. Plants have 1 or 2 flower stalks 1½”-13” long and with one flower. The White Marsh Marigold flower lacks petals but the calyx is composed of 5-12 showy sepals up to 1” long and white (fading cream or yellowish and sometimes drying brown) tinged bluish or purplish externally. The fruit is a follicle (a carpal that when mature and dry opens along one side) approximately ½” long. White Marsh Marigold flowers June through August. Distribution and Habitat: White Marsh Marigold is a wetland plant that is found in wet meadows, along streamsides, and around seeps and springs in aspen, lodgepole pine, spruce-fir, and alpine tundra communities at 7,600’-11,800’ in all Utah counties except Carbon, Davis, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Tooele, Washington, and Weber. It occurs from Alaska and Yukon south to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. General Information: White Marsh Marigold is also called Marsh Marigold, Marshmarigold, and Elkslip. It is a very early growing plant of cold locations and climates. Blue-colored buds of the plant often emerge through snow and flower within 48 hours.

147

RANUNCULACEAE

Caltha leptosepala DC.


Bur Buttercup (Ceratocephala testiculata)

Left and above: © 2011 Steve Matson

Below: © Patrick J. Alexander, www.swbiodiversity.org

Below: © 2009 Steve Matson Above: Gary Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University


Bur Buttercup

CETE5 Description: Bur Buttercup is a small, introduced annual and a member of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). It grows from 2”-3” tall and is covered with short, matted or tangled, soft wooly hairs. Short flower stems arise from ground level and all leaves are basal, simple, and divided deeply into 3 finger-like segments resembling a bird’s foot. Bur Buttercup is a winter annual that emerges, flowers, and sets fruits in the spring, when temperatures climb into the 45-50 degree range. It often occurs in dense mats which cover large areas. Each blossom usually has 5 bright yellow petals. The flowers are very small, measuring less than ¼” long. At maturity, each blossom develops into a ½”-¾” long bur, which dries and turns brown. Distribution and Habitat: Bur Buttercup is a weedy species in most dry land community types that occur from 3,750’-9,900’ in elevation. It was introduced from Eurasia and occurs in all Utah counties. It is widely established in the Western U.S. General Information: Bur Buttercup is considered highly toxic. It contains the glycoside ranunculin, which changes into a highly toxic compound, protoanemonin, when the plant is crushed. Sheep are particularly susceptible and large numbers have died in the western United States after ingesting aboveground plant material. Signs of poisoning include watery diarrhea, labored breathing and weakness. If control is attempted, it is important to control Bur Buttercup stands before they produce flowers and seeds. Hoeing, pulling, and digging can control it, or it can be sprayed with a number of herbicides for broad-leafed plants. Burning is also a good form of control.

148

RANUNCULACEAE

Ceratocephala testiculata (Crantz) Roth


Below and right: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Below: Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University

Tall Larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi)

Nelson’s Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum)

Below: © Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Left: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com Below: © 2005 Steve Matson

Left: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com


Larkspur

Delphinium spp. L.

Description: Larkspurs are plants in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). Taxonomic authorities in Utah recognize 6 species of perennial, native larkspurs, 2 of which are included here - Tall Larkspur and Nelson’s Larkspur. Tall Larkspur stems grow from deep, slender, extensive root systems and are 2’-6½’tall, hollow, cylindrical, simple, covered with a whitish waxy coating, and smooth or minutely hairy. Nelson’s Larkspur stems grow from clustered, tuberous roots and are 3½”-36”tall, solid, simple, and smooth to minutely hairy or hairy. Leaves of both species arise from the stem (cauline). Leaf blades of Tall Larkspur are 2”-8”wide and cut to the base into 3 main lobes. The 2 lateral lobes are cleft again into 2 main wedge-shaped lobes or toothed segments. Blades of Nelson’s are 1”-6”long and divided into linear oblong to narrowly oval lobes. The flowers of both may be simple or in panicles, are up to 14” long, and are generally blue purple. Tall Larkspur flowers in midsummer and Nelson’s flowers in May. Fruits are dry and dehiscent. Distribution and Habitat: Tall Larkspur occurs in mountain brush, sagebrush, aspen, tall forb, and conifer communities from 7,000’-10,200’ in all Utah counties except Beaver, Davis, Grand, Kane, Morgan, Piute, San Juan, Summit, Washington, and Wayne. Nelson’s Larkspur is found in desert shrub, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, ponderosa pine, aspen, grass-forb, Douglas fir, spruce-fir, and meadow communities from 3,700’-10,200’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Larkspurs contain numerous highly toxic alkaloids causing more cattle losses in the Western U.S. than any other poisonous plant. These toxins cause muscular paralysis leading to respiratory failure or bloat. Species Referenced: D. barbeyi (Huth) Huth – Tall Larkspur DEBA2 D. nuttallianum Pritzel ex Walpers – Nelson’s Larkspur DENU2

149

RANUNCULACEAE

DELPH


Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus)

Above (© 2008) and below (© 2009): © Steve Matson

Above and below: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Below: Dr. Matt Lavin, MSU

Above and below: © 2008 Steve Matson


Sagebrush Buttercup RAGL Description: Sagebrush Buttercup, also called Early Buttercup, is a native perennial herb in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). It grows from thickened roots and is 2”-7½” tall and smooth. Stems are erect and do not root at the nodes. Basal leaves are simple, up to 2” long, about ¾” wide, and entire or 3-lobed toward the tips. Basal leaf blades are circular to egg-shaped, narrowly oval, or inversely lance-shaped and rounded or pointed at both ends. Leaf petioles are ¾”-2¾” long. Stem leaves are simple or dissected into 2 or 3 linear or lance-shaped lobes and bract-like leaves are simple or lobed. Flower stalks are ⅜”-3⅓” long. Flowers usually have 5 sepals that are green or tinted with purple, up to ¼” long, hairy, spreading, and deciduous. Flowers have 5 yellow petals that are up to ½” long and ⅜” wide. Flowering occurs from March to May. Flowers produce 50-180 hairy achenes in a circular cluster. Distribution and Habitat: Sagebrush Buttercup is found in sagebrush, meadow, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, aspen, and lodgepole pine communities at 4,800’-10,000’ and has been documented in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Emery, Grand, Juab, Kane, Millard, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, and Washington counties. It is found across the Western U.S. and in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. General Information: Many or most Buttercup species are adapted to aquatic environments. Sagebrush Buttercup is the showiest and probably the most widespread of the Buttercup species that have adapted to semi-arid conditions.

150

RANUNCULACEAE

Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook.


Utah Buttercup (Ranunculus jovis)

All photos: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Utah Buttercup

RAJO Description: Utah Buttercup, also called Jupiter Buttercup, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). Plant surfaces are smooth and it is ¾”-4⅓” tall. Utah Buttercup has tuberous roots that are clustered, club-shaped (wider toward the tips), and almost ¼” thick. Stems are erect and do not root at the nodes. Basal leaf blades are simple but divided into 2-5 lance-oblong to inversely lance-shaped segments up to 1⅝” long and ¾”-3⅞” wide. Leaf stalks are ⅜”-3⅛” long. Stem leaves are attached directly to the stems and often 2 or 3-lobed. Flower stalks are up to 2⅜” long and abruptly curved to spreading when in fruit. Flowers have 5 sepals that are green tinted with purple and are up to almost ⅓” long, smooth, bent backward, and deciduous. Flowers have 5 yellow petals that are up to ⅝” long. Flowers produce 50-70 achenes in a circular to longer cluster. Distribution and Habitat: Utah Buttercup is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 5,000’-10,860’ and documented to occur in Box Elder, Cache, Juab, Morgan, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties. It also occurs in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, and Colorado. General Information: Utah Buttercup blooms in early springtime, flowering at the edges of snowbanks from low to high elevation. It blooms in April in the sagebrush and oak-maple zone and in late June in the spruce-fir zone.

151

RANUNCULACEAE

Ranunculus jovis A. Nelson


Left: © 2008 Steve Matson

© Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database © Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Fendler’s Meadowrue (Thalictrum fendleri) Below: Sheri Hagwood @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

© 2008 Steve Matson

© 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com


Fendler’s Meadowrue

THFE Description: Fendler’s Meadowrue is a native, perennial forb in the Buttercup or Crowfoot Family (Ranunculaceae). It is dioecious (plants with imperfect flowers, with male and female flowers borne on different plants) and has stems from 12”-30” tall. Stems are often purplish and commonly branching above the base. Leaves arise from the stem rather than the base, although larger leaves occur toward the base. Leaves are usually doubly occurring in threes (biternate) with the end segments ⅓”- ¾” long, egg-shaped to oblong egg-shaped, or circular; and thin, dark green above, and pale and often glandular beneath. Inflorescence panicles may be small or large and have leafy bracts at the base. Female flowers are borne on straight stalks and are bristly while male flowers are drooping and soft. Seeds are achenes <½” long. Fendler’s Meadowrue flowers from May to July. Distribution and Habitat: Fendler’s Meadowrue is found in willow, birch, mountain brush, sagebrush-snowberry, box elder-cottonwood, alder, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, aspen-tall forb, and spruce-fir communities at elevations from 4,500’-11,300’ in all Utah counties. It is also found from Oregon to Wyoming south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Northern Mexico. General Information: Fendler’s Meadowrue is also called Meadow Rue. It is ever-present in the aspen zone and other shady. moist sites in Utah.

152

RANUNCULACEAE

Thalictrum fendleri Engelm. Ex A. Gray


All Sticky Cinquefoil photos: © 2010 Steve Matson

Sticky Cinquefoil (Potentilla glandulosa)

Showy Cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis)

© 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

This photo and left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: © 2009 Zoya Akulova


Cinquefoil

Potentilla spp. L. Description: Showy Cinquefoil, also called Slender Cinquefoil, and Sticky Cinquefoil, also called Glandular Cinquefoil, are native, perennial herbs in the Rose Family (Rosaceae). They grow from persistent bases and have multiple stems that may be covered with short, soft hairs and are up to 24” tall. Showy and Sticky Cinquefoil have basal leaves that are 1”-12” long, palmately or pinnately compound (Showy) or pinnately compound (Sticky) with 3-9 leaflets. Terminal leaves of Showy Cinquefoil are up to 4¼” long and <1½” wide, egg-shaped or inversely lance-shaped, roundtoothed, saw-toothed, or toothed to dissected, often bicolored or green on top and bottom. Terminal leaves of Sticky Cinquefoil are egg-shaped to elliptic, doubly lobed, green, and hairy or glandular on both sides. Flowers are showy and mainly yellow, often numerous and ≈1” wide with 5 spreading petals and 5 sepals. The flowers produce many fruits (achenes) that are smooth and black. Distribution and Habitat: Showy Cinquefoil is found in sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen parkland and spruce-fir communities, often in meadows, at elevations from 6,140’-11,200’ and is found in all Utah counties. Sticky Cinquefoil occurs in various plant communities from sagebrush to timberline at 4,700’-12,000’ and reported in all Utah counties except Grand, Iron, and Wayne counties. General Information: Showy Cinquefoil is highly variable in appearance and is apomictic, which means it produces seed without fertilization. Although uses of Showy and Sticky Cinquefoil are not reported, the roots of Silverweed Cinquefoil (Potentilla anserina, now Argentina anserina), a related plant, are reported to have been used as a food source, both cooked and raw. Species Referenced: P. glandulosa Lindl. – Sticky Cinquefoil POGL9 P. gracilis Douglas ex Hook. – Showy Cinquefoil POGR9 153

ROSACEAE

POTEN


Below: © 2007 Luigi Rignanese

Above: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Small Burnet Top left, above, and below: © 2006 Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy

Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

(Sanguisorba minor)

Above: Steve Hurst @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database


Small Burnet

Sanguisorba minor Scop. Description: Small Burnet is an introduced perennial plant and a member of the Rose Family (Rosaceae). It has a woody base with persistent pairs of leaf-like parts (stipules) attached to some leaf stalks. It has basal leaves 1½”-7” long with 9-17 oval or oblong leaflets ¼”-⅔” long and coarsely saw-toothed. Plants are 8”-20” tall and stalks may be reddish when nearing maturity. Flowers are crowded on unbranched inflorescences (spikes) that are almost globe-shaped to cylindrical. Blooms are greenish with purple-tinged styles. Each flower has 4 sepals and no petals. The sepals are united below to form a cup with lobes up to ¼” long. Each flower occurs above a hairy bract. Several seeds (achenes) are produced and enclosed in the persistent cup. Small Burnet is rhizomatous. Distribution and Habitat: Small Burnet is a widely used revegetation and erosion control plant that is adapted to sites from 4,950’-6,950’. It has been documented to occur in Cache, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Millard, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Washington, and Weber counties. It was introduced from Europe and has been used widely for revegetation in the Western and the Northeastern U.S. It is cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant and has commonly been used in revegetation plantings in Utah where annual precipitation is 12” or greater. It is adapted to well-drained soils and tolerates weakly saline to weakly acid sites. General Information: Small Burnet contributes to the diversity of seeded plant communities and is considered to be excellent forage for livestock during all seasons and valuable to elk, deer, pronghorn, and birds. It is an attractive plant, and leaves are used fresh in salads, soups, herbal butters, vinegars, or cold drinks. They are said to taste like cucumber.

154

ROSACEAE

SAMI3


Left and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Northern Bedstraw

Below: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

(Galium boreale)

Below: Š Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Left: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Northern Bedstraw Galium boreale L.

GABO2

Distribution and Habitat: Northern Bedstraw is widely distributed across North America and in foothills and mountains across the West. It occurs in sagebrush, mountain brush, lodgepole pine, aspen, meadow, and spruce-fir communities at 5,350’ to 10,500’ on well-drained sites. Northern Bedstraw is intermediate in shade tolerance and adapted to acid (pH 5) to neutral soils of moderate fertility. It occurs in Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Grand, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, and Weber counties. General Information: Seeds can be dried, roasted, and ground as a coffee substitute. The genus name, Galium is a Greek word meaning milk and arises from the fact that some species were used in curdling milk. Northern Bedstraw smells and tastes sweet, is edible, and plant parts are also used as pot herbs, medicinal teas, and sweet-smelling hot compresses to stop bleeding and sooth sore muscles. Continual internal use may irritate the mouth. The foliage was once used as a fragrant mattress and pillow stuffing, hence the common name, bedstraw. The roots were used by Native Americans as an ingredient in purple dye.

155

RUBIACEAE

Description: Northern Bedstraw is an erect, native (circumboreal) perennial herb in the Coffee or Madder Family (Rubiaceae). It has numerous, conspicuous 4-petaled white to cream flowers borne in 3-forked flat-topped or round-topped clusters (panicles) in which the terminal flowers bloom first. It flowers from June to August. Stems are square and 8”-30” tall with narrow, lanceolate to oblong leaves that are 3-veined beneath and rounded at the tip. Leaves are borne in whorls of 4. Reproduction is primarily by rhizomes. Fruits are small, brown, and hairy.


Left: Wavy-leaf Paintbrush (C. applegatei), Dr. James Bowns, Southern Utah University

Below: Rhexia-leaf Paintbrush (C. rhexifolia), Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Right: Wavy-leaf Paintbrush (C. applegatei), Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left: Sulphur Paintbrush (C. sulphurea), Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Indian Paintbrush Above: Scarlet Paintbrush (C. miniata); Below: Wyoming Paintbrush (C. linariifolia); Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

(Castilleja spp.)

Above: Western Paintbrush (C. occidentalis), Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Indian Paintbrush Castilleja spp. Mutis ex L. f.

CASTI2

Distribution and Habitat: According to plant taxonomic authorities, there are 20 species or subspecies of Indian Paintbrush in Utah. They are found in many plant communities at elevations to 12,000’ in all Utah counties. General Information: The blossoms of Indian Paintbrush are reported to be edible, but may accumulate selenium if growing in selenium-rich soils. They are not generally grazed by large herbivores. Species Referenced: C. applegatei Fernald - Wavy-leaf Paintbrush CAAP4 C. linariifolia Benth. - Wyoming Paintbrush CALI4 C. miniata Douglas ex Hook. - Scarlet Paintbrush CAMI12 C. occidentalis Torr. - Western Paintbrush CAOC4 C. rhexifolia Rydb. - Rhexia-leaf Paintbrush CARH4 C. sulphurea Rydb. - Sulpher Paintbrush CASU12

156

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Description: Indian Paintbrushes are perennial or rarely annual herbaceous plants in the Rattleweed Subfamily of the Figwort or Snapdragon Family (Scrophulariaceae). Stems are usually several, 9”-18” tall, and may be erect or decumbent. Leaves are alternate, entire or pinnately divided, and all are cauline (attached directly to stems or leaf axes). Flower heads are terminal spikes with colorful bracts that are variously colored – white, yellow, orange, pink, scarlet, to magenta. Flowers are inconspicuous, composed of tubular calyxes of 4 sepals that are fused, and 4-cleft. The corollas are composed of united petals, are narrowly tubular, and 2-lipped with the upper lip (galea) beaklike. The galea lobes are united to the tips, enclosing the anthers. The lower lips are 3-toothed. Fruits are capsules with numerous seeds.


Joseph M. DiTomaso, UC-Davis, Bugwood. org

Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org Right: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Below: Bob Nowierski, Montana State Univ., Bugwood.org

Right: Utah State University Archives, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Below: Linda Wilson, University of Idaho, Bugwood.org

Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica ssp. dalmatica)


Dalmatian Toadflax Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill. ssp. dalmatica

LIDAD

Distribution and Habitat: Dalmatian Toadflax is found in sagebrush, oak, aspen, mountain brush, and riparian communities at 4,400’-10,000’ and has been reported to occur in Beaver, Cache, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Summit, Uintah, Utah, and Wasatch counties. It is widespread across North America. General Information: Dalmatian Toadflax was introduced into Provo Canyon from Europe in the 1930s as an ornamental. It is a vigorous colonizer of rangelands, displacing desirable native vegetation. It is difficult to control due to the extensive and deep root system as well as the waxy coating on the foliage. It is listed as a noxious, regulated or designated weed in 12 states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.

157

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Description: Dalmatian Toadflax is an introduced, perennial herb in the Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). Plants are 3’ or more tall and reproduce by seed and horizontal, underground rootstocks. Stems are erect, stout, leafy, branched above, smooth, and covered with a whitish or bluish waxy coating. Leaves are dense, alternate, and entire with the upper leaves conspicuously broad-based. Leaves are up to 2” long, eggshaped or egg-shaped lance-shaped, sessile, heart-shaped clasping on the lower part of the stems, and crowded. The calyx (collective of all sepals) is ⅛” long and up to ½” long in fruit. The sepals are almost equal in length, lance-shaped, and pointed. The corolla (collective of all petals) is up to 1” long, yellow with a palate bearded with white to orange hairs, and a spur that is up to ⅔” long. The fruits are capsules that are up to ¼” long and almost spherical.


Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) John Cardina, Ohio State University, Bugwood.org John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood. org Above: Š Al Schneider, www. swcoloradowildflowers.com Below: John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org

Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Left: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood. org


Yellow Toadflax Linaria vulgaris Mill.

LIVU2

Distribution and Habitat: Yellow Toadflax is found along roadsides, in disturbed areas, and in pastures in sagebrush, grass-forb, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 6,400’-10,200’ and has been reported to occur in Beaver, Carbon, Duchesne, Garfield, Millard, Piute, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Wasatch, Wayne, and Weber counties. It is widespread across North America. General Information: Yellow Toadflax was introduced into North America from Eurasia in the mid-1800s as an ornamental. It is an aggressive invader of rangelands displacing desirable native vegetation. It is difficult to control due to the extensive root system. It is listed as a noxious, regulated or designated weed in 8 states – Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.

158

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Description: Yellow Toadflax, also called Butter and Eggs, is an introduced, perennial herb in the Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). Plants are robust, 1’-2’ or more tall and reproduce by seed and creeping roots. Stems are erect, leafy, and may be simple or branched. Leaves are pale green, numerous, up to 2” long, narrow, linear to narrowly lance-shaped, and mostly alternate. The inflorescences are densely flowered racemes that elongate when in fruit. The calyx (sepals) is ⅛”-¼” long and the corolla (petals) is up to ⅝” long, and bright yellow with a bearded orange palate and a mostly straight spur that is about ½” long. The fruits are capsules that are up to ⅓” long and almost spherical.


Right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood. org

Left & right: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Seep Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus)

© 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Above & below: © 2008 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Sheri Hagwood @ USDANRCS PLANTS Database


Seep Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus DC.

Description: Seep Monkeyflower is a native annual or perennial herbaceous plant in the Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). As an annual it has fibrous roots, and as a perennial it has stout stolons 2”-35” long or more with smooth or hairy surfaces. Stems are leafy, stout, erect or reclining with tips directed upward, simple or branched, and often very succulent. Leaves are opposite, irregularly toothed, broadly egg-shaped, to inversely egg-shaped or kidney-shaped to heart-shaped. Leaves are palmately 5-9 veined or nearly so and have petioles below and are sessile on the upper areas of the stem. The inflorescence is composed of a number of terminal racemes of flowers with long pedicels. The calyx (all of the sepals) becomes larger with age, is bell-shaped, up to ⅝” long in flower and larger in fruit with the side calyx teeth more or less sharp pointed and tending to fold inward in fruit. The corolla (petals) is yellow, ⅓”-1⅛” long or more, not persistent, strongly 2-lipped with the throat flaring and closed by a structure on the lower lip called a palate, and spotted or blotched with crimson or reddish brown. Flowering occurs from April to August. Fruits are oblong capsules up to almost 1” long and contained in inflated fused sepals. Distribution and Habitat: Seep Monkeyflower grows in marshy areas, seeps, springs, and along riverbanks in many plant communities at 2,800’-10,300’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Seep Monkeyflower is the most common and widespread species of Mimulus found in Utah. The species name guttatus is Latin and means “a drop” referring to the tiny spots on the lower lip of the flower.

159

SCROPHULARIACEAE

MIGU


Below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Above: Š 2009 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Left: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Elephanthead (Pedicularis groenlandica) Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Left: Š 2010 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com


Elephanthead

Pedicularis groenlandica Retz. PEGR

Distribution and Habitat: Elephanthead is found along streams and in bogs and wet meadows in montane to alpine plant communities at 7,000’-10,000’ and has been documented to occur in Beaver, Cache, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Uintah, Utah, and Wasatch counties. It is also found from British Columbia and Alberta to New Mexico. General Information: The species name groenlandica means Greenland for the first identified specimen which came from Greenland. Complex pollination mechanisms evolved with the genus Pedicularis, involving specific bee pollinators.

160

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Description: Elephanthead, also called Elephanthead Lousewort is a native, perennial herb in the Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). Stems are from fibrous roots, 6”-28” tall, mostly clustered, and smooth. Leaves are mostly basal, petiolate, alternate, 2”-10” long, and fern-like (pinnatifid). The stem leaves are smaller and reduced, becoming sessile, upward. The inflorescence is dense with many flowers and smooth in an elongated, unbranched, arrangement with sessile or almost sessile flowers becoming mature from the bottom upward. The bracts are mostly shorter than the flowers with the lower ones leafy and sometimes cleft and the upper ones smaller and cleft to entire. The flowers are pink-purple to reddish and shaped like an elephant’s head with 2 ear-like flaps that are the lower lip petals and a slender upturned “trunk” about ⅜” long that is the upper lip of the flower. The fruits are flattened, curved, hairless capsules from ¼”-⅓” long.


Below: Rydberg’s Penstemon (P. rydbergii), © 2005 Steve Matson Wasatch Penstemon (P. cyananthus), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Penstemon

Right: Whipple’s Penstemon (P. whippleanus), © 2009 Gary A. Monroe

(Penstemon spp.)

Left: Palmer’s Penstemon (P. palmeri), © 2009 Steve Matson

Below: Firecracker Penstemon (P. eatonii) Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Above: Firecracker Penstemon (P. eatonii), Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Above: Whipple’s Penstemon (P. whippleanus), © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com


Penstemon

Penstemon spp. Mitchell PENST

Distribution and Habitat: Taxonomic authorities recognize 95 species or varieties of Penstemon in Utah. They occur in many plant communities and up to 12,800’ in all Utah counties. General Information: Penstemons are not primary forage species. Some are used in landscaping and revegetation of disturbed areas. Species Referenced: P. cyananthus Hook. - Wasatch Penstemeon PECY2 P. eatonii A. Gray - Firecracker Penstemon PEEA P. palmeri A. Gray - Palmer’s Penstemon PEPA8 P. rydbergii A. Nelson - Rydberg’s Penstemon PERY P. whippleanus A. Gray - Whipple’s Penstemon PEWH

161

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Description: Penstemons, also called Beardtongues, are perennial herbs or subshrubs in the Figwort Subfamily of the Snapdragon Family (Scrophulariaceae). They may be smooth and hairless, hairy, or glandular-hairy. Leaves are basal and opposite or sometimes all cauline, simple, entire or toothed, petiolate near the bottom becoming sessile upward, smaller, and like bracts in the inflorescences. Inflorescences are whorled, flat-topped or convex paniculate flower clusters located in the leaf axils, sometimes reduced to a single flower. Flowers are composed of calyxes that are 5-cleft with lobes having margins that are thin, dry, and membranous. The corollas are composed of united petals, are funnel-shaped and enlarged on one side, 2-lipped, and smooth or bearded. Flowers have 4 fertile stamens and 1 sterile filament. Penstemon flowers range in color from white to pink, red, maroon, purple, lavender, violet, or blue. Fruits are 2-valved capsules with few to numerous seeds.


Left & below: Š 2010 Louis-M. Landry

Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Hare Figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata)

Right: Š 2009 Trent M. Draper

Above and right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Hare Figwort

Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh. SCLA

Distribution and Habitat: Hare Figwort can form thick stands along streambanks and in moist sites in sagebrush, oak-maple-serviceberry, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 5,600’-10,700’ and is reported to occur in all Utah counties with the exception of Beaver, Daggett, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Sevier, and Wayne counties. General Information: Plants flower from May through July. It supposedly acquired the common name of “Hare” Figwort because of the resemblance of the blossoms to rabbits. The Iroquois people used Hare Figwort roots and leaves medicinally as an antihemorrhagic, a cold remedy, a dermatological aid, a gynecological aid, and a kidney aid.

162

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Description: Hare Figwort, also called Lanceleaf Figwort, is a native, perennial forb in the Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). Plants are robust, 2’-6½’ tall. Stems are square, almost smooth to minutely hairy below, and glandular in the flower head (inflorescence). Leaves are opposite, 2”-6” long and 1”-2” wide, lance-shaped with heart shaped to rounded or squared-off bases and pointed tips. Leaf margins are serrate to double serrate. The flower head is narrow and long and the blossoms are brown and pale green with maroon markings at the base. Flowers have short, open brown red corollas (petals).


Below: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org

Right: © Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Above: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Above: © 2005 George W. Hartwell

Above: © 2007 Louis-M. Landry Above right and below: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com

Above: © Max Licher, swbiodiversity.org


Common Mullein Verbascum thapsus L.

VETH

Distribution and Habitat: Common Mullein is found on disturbed sites, especially along roadsides in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, oak-maple, ponderosa pine, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 2,600’-9,200’ in all Utah counties. It is widespread across North America. General Information: Common Mullein, a native of Asia, is a medicinal herb that was imported from Europe. It has sedative, astringent, and mildly mucilaginous properties. It is classified as a noxious weed in Colorado and Hawaii. Common Mullein is not grazed by large herbivores, domestic or wild.

163

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Description: Common Mullein, also called Woolly Mullein and Flannel Mullein, is an introduced, biennial forb in the Mullein Subfamily of the Figwort or Snapdragon Family (Scrophulariaceae). Common Mullein is a robust herbaceous plant with stout, erect stems 2½’-5’ tall or more that are simple or branched and densely wooly. It has oblong to egg-shaped or lance-shaped basal leaves in a rosette and 2½”-20” long with petioles (stems). Leaves on the stems (cauline leaves) are alternate, lanceshaped to narrow egg-shaped, smaller up the stem, overlapping with bases that extend down the stem and entire or with rounded teeth on the margins. Flower heads are panicles arranged in spikes up to 12” long that are densely flowered. The flower petals (corollas) are yellow or rarely white, almost regular, and 5-lobed, the upper pair slightly shorter than the lower three. Individual flowers are borne on short pedicels (stalks). Fruits are egg-shaped capsules with numerous seeds that are wrinkled lengthwise.


Right: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension

Below: © 2011 Zoya Akulova

Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii) Right: Gary A. Monroe @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

© Patrick J. Alexander, swbiodiversity.org

Below: © 2009 Keir Morse, www.keiriosity.com

Above: © Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.org


Sacred Datura Datura wrightii Regel

Description: Sacred Datura, also called Sacred Thorn-apple, is a native herb which is a member of the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) that may grow as an annual or perennial. Stems are stout, mostly erect, branched, and may vary from 12”-40” tall. The petioled leaves are 2”-10” long, egg-shaped to elliptical with wavy to entire margins, often uneven at the base and covered with fine white to gray hairs. The calyx is 2¾”-5” long and the corolla is 6”-9” long and white to violet. The fruit is a spherical, spiny capsule that hangs or droops downward. Seeds are flat and numerous. Distribution and Habitat: Sacred Datura is found naturally in creosote bush, blackbrush, Joshua tree, sagebrush, and pinyon-juniper communities at 2,275’-6,100’ in Garfield, Grand, Kane, Salt Lake, San Juan, Washington, and Wayne counties as well as from Colorado to Texas, west to California; and in Mexico. Sacred Datura reported in Salt Lake County may have been planted as an ornamental. General Information: Sacred Datura flowers are the largest flowers of any native plant in Utah. They are sweet scented while foliage is reported to smell like a wet dog. Flowers open in early evening and are closed most of the day. There are several similar species of Datura containing the toxic compounds, solanine alkaloids, including Sacred Datura and Jimsonweed (D. stramonium). Cattle are deemed more susceptible to poisoning; however, animals seldom ingest Datura species if other forage is available.

164

SOLANACEAE

DAWR2


Below: © 2011 Louis-M. Landry

Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org Below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Below: Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org

© 2011 Louis-M. Landry

Right: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)


Black Henbane Hyoscyamus niger L.

Description: Black Henbane is an introduced, annual or biennial herb in the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae). It is 1’-3’ tall with stout, sticky, leafy stems covered with short, soft, unmatted hairs. Leaves are alternate, 2”-8” long, with oblong, egg-shaped, or lance-shaped blades that are irregularly lobed or cleft halfway or more to, but not reaching, the midrib. The leaves are without stalks or the upper ones are clasping and sticky or with short, soft, unmatted hairs. Flowers are arranged in long racemes in the axils of the upper leaves and on one side of the stem only. The calyx (collective whorl of sepals) is urn-shaped to bellshaped and 5-cleft, becoming larger with age enclosing the fruit capsule. The corolla (collective whorl of united petals) is 5-cleft, greenish yellow to whitish with dark rose or purple veins, and funnel-shaped. Flowering occurs May through September producing numerous black seeds per flower (up to 500,000). Seeds are enclosed in the capsule formed by the calyx which pops open at maturity. Distribution and Habitat: Black Henbane occurs in sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, oak-serviceberry, aspen, and spruce-fir communities at 5,500’-8,200’ along roadsides and other disturbed areas. It has been documented in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Grand, Morgan, Rich, Sanpete, Summit, and Weber counties. It is fairly widespread across the Northern United States and the Southern Provinces of Canada. It is native to Europe. General Information: Black Henbane contains tropane alkaloids including hyoscyamine, hyoscine, and atropine; toxins with the potential to poison animals and humans. The alkaloids in Black Henbane have been used in the past and are used currently as medicines in controlled dosages.

165

SOLANACEAE

HYNI


Below: © 2005 Steve Matson

Above: © Max Licher, www. swbiodiversity.org

Above and left: © 2009 Steve Matson

Below: © Max Licher, www.swbiodiversity.org

Below: © 1998 Larry Blakely

Coyote Tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata)


Coyote Tobacco

Nicotiana attenuata Torrey ex S. Watson Description: Coyote Tobacco is a native, annual, herbaceous plant in the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae). The stems are erect, simple or branched, almost smooth to glandular-hairy, and 12”-63” tall. The leaves are 2”-6” long, egg-shaped to long and narrow egg-shaped, and mostly on petioles. The flowers are borne on pedicels in unbranched spike-like inflorescences (racemes) or branched spike-like inflorescences (panicles) with flowers maturing from the bottom upward. The whorl of sepals is bell-shaped, up to ⅓” long, and with deltoid teeth. The corollas are composed of united petals, funnel-shaped to tubular in form, and with the expanded parts of the corollas (limbs) spreading and shallowly 5-lobed. The corollas are commonly white or greenish-white, and up to 1” or more long and ⅓” wide. The fruits are capsules that are up to almost ½” long. The seeds are small and brown. Flowering occurs from May to October. Distribution and Habitat: Coyote Tobacco is common in sandy washes, open desert woodland, and on disturbed areas. It is also found in adjacent plant communities at 2,700’-9,350’ and has been documented to occur in all Utah counties except Cache, Duchesne, Rich, Wasatch, Wayne, and Weber. It also is found from Idaho and Washington to Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and California. General Information: Coyote Tobacco was used by Indian peoples for smoking, often stuffed into internodes of common reed, Phragmites australis. It contains toxic alkaloids including nicotine and anabasine, 2 of the most active alkaloids with respect to animal poisoning when ingested.

166

SOLANACEAE

NIAT


Right: © 2004 James M. Andre

Below: Karen A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Above: © 2010 Zoya Akulova

Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) Above: Florida Division of Plant Industry Archive, Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Bugwood.org

Above: © 2004 James M. Andre Right: © Larry Allain, National Wetlands Research Center, USGS


Silverleaf Nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.

Description: Silverleaf Nightshade is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) that is native to the central U.S. but has spread to other areas. The stems are 12”-40” tall, covered with silvery, short, fine star-shaped hairs and sparse to many small prickles. Leaves are oblong to linear or oblong lance-shaped, and up to 6” long. Leaves are blunt or rounded at the tip and the margins are entire to slightly or strongly wavy. The inflorescences are flat- or round-topped, terminal, shortstalked, few-flowered panicles in which the upper flowers bloom first. Flower stalks become rather long and bent backward in fruit. The calyx (sepals) is 5-angled, with slender lobes almost equal in length to the calyx tube. The petals (corolla) are violet or sometimes white, slightly 5-lobed, and up to 1” wide. The corolla lobes are triangular-eggshaped. Five stamens with conspicuous yellow anthers extend above the stigma. The ovary is covered with short, soft, matted, wooly, white hairs. The mature fruit is a spherical, yellow berry, over ½” in diameter that may eventually turn black. Flowering occurs from May to October. Distribution and Habitat: Silverleaf Nightshade is found in disturbed areas in shadscale, creosote bush, blackbrush, mesquite, and sand sagebrush communities at 2,800’-5,500’ and has been documented to occur in Grand, Kane, San Juan, Washington, and Wayne counties. It also occurs across the southern tier of the U.S. and probably into Mexico. General Information: Silverleaf Nightshade contains a toxic tropane alkaloid called solanine and a toxic steroidal alkaloid called solanidine. All parts of the plant are poisonous, especially the ripe berries. It is considered a noxious weed in Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, and Washington and an “A” designated weed in Oregon.

167

SOLANACEAE

SOEL


Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum)

Above & right: © 2001 Larry Blakely Above and below: Charles T. Bryson, USDA ARS, Bugwood.org

Below: © 2001 Larry Blakely

Above: © Patrick Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database


Buffalobur

Solanum rostratum Dunal Description: Buffalobur is a native, annual, herbaceous plant in the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae). The stems are up to 28” tall, somewhat covered with grey or white, short, fine hair; or yellowish with large amounts of stellate hairiness and well armed with straight prickles. Leaves are once or twice pinnately deeply cleft or lobed. Inflorescences are unbranched with pedicellate flowers growing or turning upward and maturing from the bottom upward (racemes). The whorl of sepals is nearly hidden by many spine-like prickles. The corollas (all 5 petals) are yellow and up to 1” wide with the short lobes broadly egg-shaped. The stamens and the styles of the flowers are curved downward and the lowest anther in each flower is much longer than and exceeding the others, and with an incurved beak. The mature fruit is a berry, entirely enclosed by the surrounding whorl of sepals. Seeds are black and coarsely wavy-wrinkled. Flowering occurs from May to October. Distribution and Habitat: Buffalobur is found on disturbed areas and adjacent plant communities at 2,800’-7,600’ and has been documented to occur in Cache, Davis, Garfield, Grand, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, and Washington counties. It is widespread across the U.S. and the southern provinces of Canada. General Information: Buffalobur contains a toxic tropane alkaloid called solanine and a toxic steroidal alkaloid called solanidine. All parts of the plant are potentially poisonous if ingested. It is considered a noxious weed in Idaho and Washington and a “B” designated weed in Oregon.

168

SOLANACEAE

SORO


Below: © 2004 George W. Hartwell

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) Left and above: © 2007 Louis-M. Landry

Below: © 2006 Steve Matson

Below: © 2004 George W. Hartwell

Above: Dr. Roger Banner, USU Extension


Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica L.

Description: Stinging Nettle is classified as both a native and an introduced perennial forb in the Nettle Family (Urticaceae). Stinging Nettle is rhizomatous, with 4-angled stems that are 2’-6½’ tall, with stinging hairs and otherwise hairy to almost smooth. Leaves are opposite, 1⅝”-7” long with 2⅓” stalks, up to 3” wide, linear-lance-shaped or lance-shaped to egg-shaped, and coarsely serrated and sharply pointed at the tip. The leaf base may be heart-shaped or squared-off to tapering to a point. Leaf stalks (petioles) have pairs of leaf-like appendages at the base that are 2”-6” long. Flowers are small, greenish, and inconspicuous. Fruits are lentil-shaped achenes. Distribution and Habitat: Stinging Nettle is found in riparian and wetland habitats but also in sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, and Douglas fir communities, at 4,500’-8,500’ and has been reported in all Utah counties except Emery, Kane, and Rich. It is reported to occur across all U.S. states with the exception of Missouri and across all Canadian provinces. General Information: Stinging Nettle is recognized as a native species in the Northern Hemisphere. It is viewed as a weed by some, especially when it forms essentially impenetrable stands along streams, rivers, and other waterways.

169

URTICACEAE

URDI


Right: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Above and below: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Nuttall’s Violet (Viola nuttallii)

Above: Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Above: Dr. Matt Lavin, Montana State University

Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org


Nuttall’s Violet Viola nuttallii Pursh.

VINU2

Distribution and Habitat: Nuttall’s Violet grows in sagebrush, oak-maple-serviceberry, aspen, and mixed conifer communities at 4,500’-10,500’ in Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Uintah, Utah, and Weber counties. It is also found from British Columbia to Saskatchewan south to California, Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas. General Information: Nuttall’s Violet is edible. Leaves and flowers can be eaten raw, used as potherbs, used as thickeners, or made into tea. However, rhizomes, fruits, and seeds are poisonous.

170

VIOLACEAE

Description: Nuttall’s Violet, also called Yellow Montane Violet, is an acaulescent (stemless) or short caulescent (short stemmed), native, perennial plant in the Violet Family (Violaceae). Plants are 2”-10” tall with thickened mostly vertical rhizomes. Leaves and stems are hairless to densely hairy. Stipules are up to ¾” long and entire or toothed. Leaf stalks (petioles) are <¼”-6” long. Leaf blades are egg-shaped to elliptic, lance-shaped, or oblong, and rounded or blunt at the tip, irregularly toothed to almost entire, ⅜”-2¾” long and almost 1⅝” wide. Leaf blades are rounded to wedge-shaped to squared or almost heart-shaped at the base. Flower stalks may be shorter than or longer than the leaves. Flowers are ⅓”-⅔” long, petals are yellow, the upper 2 are often brownish or purplish on the back and the lower 3 lined purple with the side ones bearded. Flowering occurs from May to August. Fruits are dry capsules opening along 3 lines.


Steve Hurst @ USDANRCS PLANTS Database

Above: Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org Below: Forest and Kim Starr, USGS, Bugwood.org

Above and below: Steve Dewey, Utah State Univ., Bugwood.org

Above: Š Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org


Puncturevine

Tribulus terrestris L. TRTE Description: Puncturevine, also called Goathead, is an introduced, annual, herbaceous plant in the Caltrop Family (Zygophyllaceae). It is a plant with prostrate spreading stems that are mainly up to 4” long. Leaves with membranous stipules are even pinnate with 3-8 pairs of oblong to elliptic, sharp pointed leaflets that bear long, soft, straight hairs. Solitary flowers are borne in leaf axils and have 5 sepals that are deciduous early, and 5 bright yellow, inversely egg-shaped petals. Flower ovaries are 5-lobed and 5-chambered. The fruits are nutlets with 3-5 segments, crested at the back, and sculpted into 2 elongated spiny projections on each segment. These segments resemble a horned head lending one of the common names for the plant, “Goathead.”

General Information: Puncturevine is native to the Old World. Welsh and coauthors (2003) have described Puncturevine as follows: “This tribulation of the earth is a vicious weed, leaving in its wake a refuse heap of punctured tires and painfully injured feet; it is, indeed, adequately named scientifically. Besides inflicting mechanical injury, livestock eating the plant can suffer from photosensitization.” It has been shown to contain a number of steroidal sapogenins and a mycotoxin that have been associated with hepatogenic photosensitivity in livestock. It is considered a noxious or class “C” designated weed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, and Nevada, and a “B” designated weed in North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington.

171

ZYGOPHYLLACEAE

Distribution and Habitat: Puncturevine is found on disturbed areas – roadsides, sidewalks, and open areas in adjacent plant communities at 2,800’-7,000’ and has been documented to occur in Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Kane, Millard, Salt Lake, San Juan, Uintah, Washington, and Weber counties. It is widespread across the U.S.


Index A Abronia fragrans Achillea millefolium Aconitum columbianum Acroptilon repens Actaea rubra African Mustard Agastache urticifolia Agoseris aurantiaca Agoseris glauca Agoeris, Orange Agoseris, Pale Allium acuminatum Alpine Jacob’s-ladder Alpine Milkvetch Ambrosia psilostachya American Bellflower American Bistort American Licorice American Vetch Androstephium breviflorum Annual Kochia Annual Samphire Antennaria dimorpha Antennaria microphylla Apocynum andosaemifolium Aquilegia coerulea Aquilegia coerulea var. ochroleuca Arctium minus Argemone munita ssp. rotundata Arizona Woollybase Armed Prickly-poppy Arnica cordifolia Arnica, Heartleaf Arrowleaf Balsamroot Artemisia dracunculus Artemisia ludoviciana Asclepias cryptoceras Asclepias speciosa Asclepias subverticillata Aspen Bluebell Aspen Fleabane Aster, Pacific Aster, Poison Aster, Tansyleaf

129 16 144 17 145 76 116 18 18 18 18 117 138 95 19 78 141 97 109 118 84 87 20 20 12 146 146 212 134 60 134 22 22 26 23 24 13 14 15 69 39 58 65 49

Aster, Western Astragalus alpinus Astragalus argophyllus Astragaluc cicer Astragalus hallii Astragalus miser Astragalus praelongus Avalanche Lily, Yellow

58 95 95 95 95 95 95 121

Badlands Mulesears Baileya, Desert Baileya multiradiata Ballhead Waterleaf Balsamorhiza hookeri Balsamorhiza macrophylla Balsamorhiza saggitata Balsamroot, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Cutleaf Balsamroot, Hooker’s Baneberry, Red Bassia americana Bassia prostrata Bassia scoparia Beardtongue Bedstraw, Northern Beeplant, Rocky Mountain Beeplant, Yellow Bellflower, American Bellflower, Blue Bill, Redstem Stork’s Bindweed, Field Birdsfoot Trefoil Biscuitroot, Foothill Biscuitroot, Giant Biscuitroot, Stinking Bistort, American Black Henbane Blanketflower, Hopi Blanketflower, Indian Blanketflower, Yellow Blue Bellflower Blue Camas Blue Flag, Western Blue Flax Blue Mustard

64 25 25 113 26 26 26 26 26 26 145 82 83 84 161 155 79 79 78 78 111 90 101 9 9 9 141 165 41 41 41 78 120 115 21 76

B


Bluebell, Aspen Bluebell, Mountain Bluebell, Tall Bottlestopper Bracken Fern Brackenfern, Western Buckwheat, Sulfur Buckwheat, Sulfur-flowered Buffalo Gourd Buffalobur Bull Thistle Bur Buttercup Burdock Burnet, Small Butter and Eggs Buttercup, Bur Buttercup, Early Buttercup, Jupiter Buttercup, Sagebrush Buttercup, Utah Butterweed Groundsel

69 69 69 139 143 143 140 140 91 168 35 148 21 154 158 148 150 151 150 151 53

Cabbage, Skunk Caespitose Four-nerve Daisy Calochortus aureus Calochortus flexuoses Calochortus gunnisonii Calochortus nuttallii Caltha leptosepala Camas, Blue Camas, Foothill Death Camas, Small Camassia quamash Camissonia eastwoodiae Camissonia, Eastwood’s Camissonia, Grand Junction Campanula rotundifolia Canada Thistle Canyaigre Dock Canyonlands Prairie Clover Capitate Waterleaf Cardaria draba Carduus nutans Castilleja applegatei Castilleja linariifolia Castilleja miniata Castilleja occidentalis Castilleja rhexifolia Castilleja sulphurea Centaurea diffusa

123 60 119 119 119 119 147 120 124 120 120 131 131 131 78 34 142 96 113 76 27 156 156 156 156 156 156 28

Centaurea, Diffuse Centaurea solstitialis Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos Centaurea virgate Ceratocephala testiculata Chamerion angustifolium Charming Woodyaster Checkermallow, Oregon Chenopodium album Chickenclaws Chickweed, James’ Chicory Chilean Sweetroot Chondrilla juncea Chorispora tenella Cicer Milkvetch Cichorium intybus Cicuta maculata Cinquefoil, Glandular Cinquefoil, Showy Cinqefoil, Slender Cinquefoil, Sticky Cirsium arvense Cirsium vulgare Cisco Woodyaster Cleftleaf Wildheliotrope Cleome lutea Cleome serrulata Cleomella palmeriana Cleomella, Palmer’s Clover, Canyonlands Prairie Clover, Kanab Prairie Clover, Searls Prairie Colorado Columbine Colorado Four-o’clock Colorado Rubberweed Columbia Groundsel Columbia Ragwort Columbian Monkshood Columbine, Colorado Common Cow Parsnip Common Dandelion Common Goldenrod Common Mullein Common Plantain Common Sunflower Common Teasel Common Yarrow Coneflower, Western Conium maculatum Contra Stoneseed Convolvulus arvensis

C

172

28 29 30 31 148 132 65 127 85 88 81 33 10 32 76 95 33 4 153 153 153 153 34 35 65 114 79 79 80 80 96 96 96 146 130 47 56 56 144 146 7 59 57 163 135 44 92 16 55 5 68 90


Copperweed Cotton Thistle Cow Parsnip Cow Parsnip, Common Cowparsnip Coyote Gourd Coyote Tobacco Creeping Knapweed Creeping Rushpea Crenulate Phacelia Crepis acuminata Cress, Hoary Crossflower Cryptanth, Dwarf Cryptanth, Yellow Cryptantha flava Cryptantha humilis Cucurbita foetidissima Cuman Ragweed Curly Dock Curlycup Gumweed Cutleaf Balsamroot Cymopterus globosus Cymopterus ibapensis Cymopterus longpipes Cymopterus purpurascens Cymopterus purpureus Cynoglossum officinale

52 51 7 7 7 91 166 17 99 114 36 70 76 66 66 66 66 91 19 142 42 26 6 6 6 6 6 67

E

60 62 38 39 40 60 40 96 96 157 59 18 164 164 124 102 102 149 149 77 25

F

D Daisy, Caespitose Four-nerve Daisy, Easter Daisy, Shaggy Fleabane Daisy, Showy Fleabane Daisy, Slenderleaf Daisy, Stemless Four-nerve Daisy, Utah Dalea flavescens Dalea searlsiae Dalmation Toadflax Dandelion, Common Dandelion, Mountain Datura, Sacred Datura wrightii Deathcamas, Foothill Deerclover, Utah Deervetch, Utah Delphinium barbeyi Delphinium nuttallianum Descurainia pinnata Desert Baileya

Desert Evening Primrose Desert Marigold Desert Princesplume Desert Trumpet Diffuse Centaurea Diffuse Knapweed Dipsacus fullonum Dock, Canyaigre Dock, Curly Dogbane, Spreading Dogtooth Violet Dwarf Cryptanth Dyer’s Woad

133 25 75 139 28 28 92 142 142 12 121 66 72

Early Buttercup Easter-Daisy Eastwood’s Camissonia Eggs, Butter and Elephanthead Elephanthead Lousewort Elkslip Elkweed Enceliopsis nudicaulis Equisetum hyemale Erigeron pumilus Erigeron speciosus Erigeron utahenis Eriogonum inflatum Eriogonum umbellatum Erodium cicutarium Erysimum asperum Erysimum capitatum Erythronium grandiflorum Euphorbia esula Evening Primrose, Desert Evening Primrose, Pale Evening Primrose, Tufted Evening Primrose, Yellow

150 62 131 158 160 160 147 110 37 93 38 39 40 139 140 111 71 71 121 94 133 133 133 133

Fairy Trumpet False Hellebore False Lily of the Valley, Feathery False Lily of the Valley, Starry False Solomon’s Seal, Feathery False Solomon’s Seal, Starry Feathery False Lily of the

136 123 122 122 122 122


Valley Feathery False Solomon’s Seal Fern, Bracken Fernleaf Licorice-root Fendler’s Meadowrue Field Bindweed Field Horsetail Figwort, Hare Figwort, Lanceleaf Filaree, Redstem Firecracker Penstemon Fireweed Flag, Western Blue Flannel Mullein Flatbud Pricklypoppy Flax, Blue Flax, Lewis Fleabane, Aspen Fleabane, Shaggy Fleabane, Showy Fleabane, Utah Foothill Biscuitroot Foothill Deathcamas Foothill Lomatium Forage Kochia Four-nerve Daisy, Caespitose Four-nerve Daisy, Stemless Four-o’clock, Colorado Fragrant Sand Verbena Frasera speciosa Fremont Geranium Fringeleaf Necklacepod Fuller’s Teasel Funnel Lily

122 122 143 8 152 90 93 162 162 111 161 132 115 163 134 125 125 39 38 39 40 9 124 9 83 60 60 130 129 110 112 107 92 118

Galium boreale Gaillardia aristata Gaillardia flava Gaillardia pinnatifida Gentian, Showy Geranium caespitosum Geranium, Fremont Geranium richardsonii Geranium, Richardson’s Geranium, Sticky Geranium, Sticky Purple Geranium viscosissimum Giant Biscuitroot Giant Hyssop, Nettleleaf

155 41 41 41 110 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 9 116

G

Giant Lomatium Gilia, Scarlet Glandular Cinquefoil Globe Springparsley Globemallow, Gooseberryleaf Globemallow, Scarlet Glory, Wild Morning Glycyrrhiza lepidota Goathead Goatsbeard Golden Mariposa Lily Goldenbanner, Mountain Goldeneye, Nevada Goldeneye, Showy Goldenrod, Common Goldenrod, Missouri Gooseberryleaf Globemallow Gourd, Buffalo Gourd, Coyote Gourd, Missouri Gourd, Stinking Grand Junction Camissonia Green Molly Greenmolly Greenstem Paperflower Greenthread, Scapose Grindelia squarrosa Groundsel, Butterweed Groundsel, Columbia Groundsel, Lobeleaf Groundsel, Saw Groundsel, Uinta Gumweed, Curlycup Gunnison’s Mariposa Lily

9 136 153 6 128 128 90 97 171 63 119 108 45 45 57 57 128 91 91 91 91 131 82 82 54 61 42 53 53 53 53 53 42 119

Hall’s Milkvetch Halogeton Halogeton glomeratus Hardheads Hare Figwort Hawksbeard, Longleaf Hawksbeard, Mountain Hawksbeard, Tall Hawksbeard, Tapertip Heartleaf Arnica Hedysarum boreale Helianthella uniflora Helianthus annuus Heliomeris multiflora var.

95 86 86 17 162 36 36 36 36 22 98 43 44

H

173


multiflora Heliomeris multiflora var. nevadensis Heliotrope Hellebore, False Hemlock, Poison Hemlock, Water Henbane, Black Heracleum maximum Hoary Cress Hoary Townsendia Hoffmannseggia repens Hooker’s Balsamroot Hood Phlox Hopi Blanketflower Horse Nettle Horsemint Horsetail Horsetail, Field Horsetail, Meadow Horsetail Milkweed Houndstongue Hydrophyllum capitatum Hymenoxys hoopesii Hymenoxys, Low Hymenoxys richardsonii Hyoscyamus niger Hyssop, Nettleleaf Giant

45

K

45 114 123 5 4 165 7 70 62 99 26 137 41 116 116 93 93 93 15 67 113 46 46 47 165 116

Kanab Prairie-clover Knapweed, Creeping Knapweed, Diffuse Knapweed, Russian Knapweed, Spotted Knapweed, Squarrose Knapweed, White Kochia, Annual Kochia, Forage

96 17 28 17 30 31 28 84 83

Ibapah Spring-parsley Indian Blanketflower Indian Paintbrush Indian Tobacco Ipomopsis aggregata Iris, Missouri Iris missouriensis Iris, Rocky Mountain Iris, Wild Isatis tinctoria Iva acerosa Ives’ Woollybase

6 41 156 142 136 115 115 115 115 72 52 60

48 138 85 55 162 100 149 149 100 100 138 94 106 73 74 48 125 97 97 8 8 118 119 119

Jacob’s-ladder, Alpine Jacob’s-ladder, Leafy Jacob’s-ladder, Tower Jacob’s-ladder, White James’ Chickweed Jupiter Buttercup

138 138 138 138 81 151

Lactuca serriola Ladder, Jacob’s Lambsquarters Lambstongue Ragwort Lanceleaf Figwort Lanszwert’s Sweetpea Larkspur, Nelson’s Larkspur, Tall Lathyrus lanszwertii Lathyrus pauciflorus Leafy Jacob’s-ladder Leafy Spurge Lemonweed, Rush Lepidium latifolium Lepidium montanum Lettuce, Prickly Lewis Flax Licorice, American Licorice, Wild Licorice-root, Fernleaf Ligusticum filicinum Lily, Funnel Lily, Golden Mariposa Lily, Gunnison’s Mariposa Lily of the Valley, Feathery False Lily of the Valley, Starry False Lily, Sego Lily, Weakstem Mariposa Lily, Yellow Avalanche Linaria dalmatica ssp. dalmatica Linaria vulgaris Linum lewisii Lithospermum ruderale Littleaf Pussytoes Lobeleaf Groundsel Locoweed

I

J

L

122 122 119 121 157 158 125 68 20 53 95


Lomatium dissectum Lomatium, Foothill Lomatium, Giant Lomatium graveolens Lomatium grayi Lomatium, Stinking Longleaf Hawksbeard Longleaf Phlox Long-stalk Spring-parsley Loosestrife, Purple Lotus corniculatus Lotus utahensis Louisiana Sagewort Lousewort, Elephanthead Low Hymenoxys Low Pussytoes Lupine, Rusty Lupine, Silky Lupine, Silvery Lupine, Spurred Lupine, Tailcup Lupinus argenteus Lupinus caudatus Lupinus pusillus Lupinus sericeus Lythrum salicaria

9 9 9 9 9 9 36 137 6 126 101 102 24 160 24 20 103 103 103 103 103 103 103 103 103 126

M Machaeranthera tanacetifolia Madia glomerata Maianthemum racemosum Maianthemum stellatum Malcolmia africana Marigold, Desert Marigold, Marsh Marigold, White Marsh Marigold, Wild Mariposa Lily, Golden Mariposa Lily, Gunnison’s Mariposa Lily, Weakstem Marsh Marigold Marsh Marigold, White Marshmarigold, White Meadow Horsetail Meadow Milkvetch Meadow Rue Meadowrue, Fendler’s Melilotus officinalis Mertensia arizonica Mertensia ciliata Milkvetch, Alpine

49 50 122 122 76 25 147 147 25 119 119 119 147 147 147 93 95 152 152 104 69 69 95

Milkvetch, Cicer Milkvetch, Hall’s Milkvetch, Meadow Milkvetch, Stinking Milkvetch, Timber Milkweed, Horsetail Milkweed, Pallid Milkweed, Showy Milkweed, Western Whorled Milkweed, Whorled Mimulus guttatus Mirabilis multiflora Missouri Goldenrod Missouri Gourd Missourie Iris Molly, Green Monkeyflower, Seep Monkshood, Columbia Monkshood, Western Montane Violet, Yellow Monument Plant Morning Glory, Wild Mound Phlox Mountain Bluebell Mountain Dandelion Mountain Goldenbanner Mountain Hawksbeard Mountain Iris, Rocky Mountain Peppergrass Mountain Pepperplant Mountain Pepperweed Mountain Phlox, Prostrate Mountain Sweet-cicely Mulesears Mulesears, Badlands Mulesears, Rough Mullein, Common Mullein, Flannel Mullein, Woolly Musk Mustard Musk Phlox Musk Thistle Mustard, African Mustard, Blue Mustard, Musk Mustard, Tansy Mustard, Tumble

95 95 95 95 95 15 13 14 15 15 159 130 57 91 115 82 159 144 144 170 110 90 137 69 18 108 36 115 74 74 74 137 10 64 64 64 163 163 163 76 137 27 76 76 76 76 76

Nakestem Sunray Narrowleaf Plantain

37 135

N

174


Navajo Tea Necklacepod, Fringeleaf Nelson’s Larkspur Nettle, Horse Nettle, Stinging Nettleleaf Giant Hyssop Nevada Goldeneye Nicotiana attenuata Nightshade, Silverleaf Nodding Plumeless Thistle Nodding Thistle Northern Bedstraw Northern Sweetvetch Nuttall’s Violet

61 107 149 116 169 116 45 166 167 27 27 155 98 170

Oenothera caespitosa Oenothera flava Oenothera pallida Oenothera primeveris Oneflower Sunflower Onion, Tapertip Onobrychis viciifolia Onopordum acanthium Orange Agoseris Orange Sneezeweed Oregon Checkermallow Osmorhiza berteroi Osmorhiza occidentalis Owl’s-Claws Oxytenia acerosa Oyster Plant

133 133 133 133 43 117 105 51 18 46 127 10 11 46 52 63

Pacific Aster Packera multilobata Paintbrush, Indian Paintbrush, Rhexia-leaf Paintbrush, Scarlet Paintbrush, Sulphur Paintbrush, Wavy-leaf Paintbrush, Western Paintbrush, Wyoming Pale Agoseris Pale Evening Primrose Pallid Milkweed Palmer’s Cleomella Palmer’s Penstemon Paperdaisy Paperflower, Greenstem

58 53 156 156 156 156 156 156 156 18 133 13 80 161 25 54

O

P

Parsnip, Cow Pedicularis groenlandica Penstemon cyananthus Penstemon eatonii Penstemon, Firecracker Penstemon palmeri Penstemon, Palmer’s Penstemon rydbergii Penstemon, Rydberg’s Penstemon, Wasatch Penstemon whippleanus Penstemon, Whipple’s Peppergrass, Mountain Pepperplant, Mountain Pepperweed, Mountain Pepperweed, Perennial Perennial Pepperweed Phacelia crenulata Phacelia, Crenulate Phlox astromontana var. austromonta Phlox griseola var. tumulosa Phlox, Hood Phlox hoodii Phlox hoodia var. muscoides Phlox longifolia Phlox, Longleaf Phlox, Mound Phlox, Musk Phlox, Prostrate Mountain Pickleweed, Utah Pingue Rubberweed Plant, Monument Plant, Oyster Plantago lanceolata Plantago major Plantago patagonica Plantain, Common Plantain, Narrowleaf Plantain, Wooly Plume, Prince’s Plumeless Thistle, Nodding Poison-Aster Poison Hemlock Polemonium foliosissimum Polygonum bistortoides Potentilla glandulosa Potentilla gracilis Prairie Clover, Canyonlands Prairie Clover, Kanab Prairie Clover, Searls Prickly Lettuce

7 160 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 161 74 74 74 73 73 114 114 137 137 137 137 137 137 137 137 137 88 47 110 63 135 135 135 135 135 135 75 27 65 5 138 141 153 153 96 96 96 48


Prickly-poppy, Armed Prickly-poppy, Flatbud Primrose, Desert Evening Primrose, Pale Evening Primrose, Tufted Evening Primrose, Yellow Evening Prince’s Plume Princesplume, Desert Prostrate Mountain Phlox Pseudostellaria jamesiana Psilostrophe sparsiflora Psoralidium junceum Pteridium aquilinum Puncturevine Purple Loosestrife Purple Springparsley Pussytoes, Littleleaf Pussytoes, Low Pussytoes, Rosy

134 134 133 133 133 133 75 75 137 81 54 106 143 171 126 6 20 20 20

Quamash

120

Ragweed, Cuman Ragweed, Western Ragwort, Columbia Ragwort, Lambstongue Ragwort, Saw Ragwort, Tall Ranunculus glaberrimus Ranunculus jovis Red Baneberry Red Swampfire Redstem Filaree Redstem Stork’s Bill Rhexia-leaf Paintbrush Richardson’s Geranium Rocky Mountain Beeplant Rocky Mountain Iris Rollin’s Sweetvetch Rosy Pussytoes Rough Mulesears Rubberweed, Colorado Rubberweed, Pingue Rudbeckia occidentalis Rue, Meadow Rumex crispus Rumex hymenosepalus Rush Lemonweed

19 19 56 56 56 56 150 151 145 87 111 111 156 112 79 115 98 20 64 47 47 55 152 142 142 106

Rush, Scouring Rush Scurfpea Rush Skeletonweed Rushpea, Creeping Russian Knapweed Russian Thistle Rusty Lupine Rydberg’s Penstemon

93 106 32 99 17 89 103 161

Sacred Datura Sacred Thorn-apple Sage, White Sagebrush Buttercup Sagewort, Louisiana Sainfoin Salicornia rubra Salsify, Western Salsify, Yellow Salsola tragus Samphire, Annual Samphire, Utah Sanddune Wallflower Sand Verbena, Fragrant Sand Verbena, Snowball Sand Verbena, Sweet Sanguisorba minor Sarcocornia utahensis Saw Groundsel Saw Ragwort Scabrethia scabra Scapose Greenthread Scarlet Gilia Scarlet Globemallow Scarlet Paintbrush Scorpionweed Scotch Thistle Scouring Rush Scouringrush Scrophularia lanceolata Scurfpea, Rush Searls Prairie Clover Seep Monkeyflower Sego Lily Senecio integerrimus Senecio serra Shaggy Fleabane Shaggy Fleabane Daisy Showy Cinquefoil Showy Fleabane Showy Fleabane Daisy

164 164 24 150 24 105 87 63 63 89 87 88 71 129 129 129 154 88 56 56 64 61 136 128 156 114 51 93 93 162 106 96 159 119 56 56 38 38 153 39 39

S

Q R

175


Showy Gentian Showy Goldeneye Showy Milkweed Sidalcea oregana Silky Lupine Silverleaf Nightshade Silvery Lupine Silvery Sophora Silvery Townsendia Sisymbrium altissimum Skeletonweed, Rush Skunk Cabbage Skyrocket Slender Cinquefoil Slenderleaf Daisy Small Burnet Small Camas Smilacina, Stellate Sneezeweed, Orange Snowball Sand Verbena Solanum elaeagnifolium Solanum rostratum Solidago canadensis Solidago missouriensis Solomon’s Seal, Feathery False Solomon’s Seal, Starry False Sophora, Silvery Sophora stenophylla Sphaeralcea coccinea Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia Spotted Knapweed Spreading Dogbane Springparsley, Globe Springparsley, Ibapah Springparsley, Long-stalk Springparsley, Purple Springparsley, Widewing Spurge, Leafy Spurred Lupine Squarrose Knapweed Stanleya pinnata Starry False Lily of the Valley Starry False Solomon-Seal Starthistle, Yellow Starwort, Tuber Stellate Smilacina Stemless Four-nerve Daisy Stemless Woollybase Sticky Cinquefoil Sticky Geranium Sticky Purple Geranium

110 45 14 127 103 167 103 107 62 77 32 123 136 153 40 154 120 122 46 129 167 168 57 57 122 122 107 107 128 128 30 12 6 6 6 6 6 94 103 31 75 122 122 29 81 122 60 60 153 112 112

Stinging Nettle Stinking Biscuitroot Stinking Gourd Stinking Lomatium Stinking Milkvetch Stoneseed, Contra Stoneseed, Western Stork’s Bill, Redstem Sulfur Buckwheat Sulfur-flowered Buckwheat Sulphur Paintbrush Summercypress Sunflower, Common Sunflower, Oneflower Sunray, Nakedstem Swampfire, Red Swampfire, Utah Sweet Sand Verbena Sweet-cicely, Mountain Sweetanice, Western Sweetcicely Sweetclover Sweetclover, White Sweetclover, Yellow Sweetpea, Lanszwert’s Sweetpea, Utah Sweetroot, Chilean Sweetroot, Western Sweetvetch, Northern Sweetvetch, Rollin’s Sweetvetch, Utah Symphotrichum ascendens

169 9 91 9 95 68 68 111 140 140 156 84 44 43 37 87 88 129 10 11 10 104 104 104 100 100 10 11 98 98 98 58

Tailcup Lupine Tall Bluebell Tall Hawksbeard Tall Larkspur Tall Ragwort Tall Whitetop Tansyleaf Aster Tansymustard, Western Tapertip Hawksbeard Tapertip Onion Taraxacum officinale Tarragon Tarweed Tea, Navajo Teasel Teasel, Common Teasel, Fuller’s

103 69 36 149 56 73 49 77 36 117 59 23 50 61 92 92 92

T


Tetraneuris acaulis Tetraneuris acaulis var. caespitoso Tetraneuris acaulis var. epunctata Tetraneuris acaulis var. ivesiana Tetraneuris acaulis var. nana Thalictrum fendleri Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum Thermopsis montana Thistle, Bull Thistle, Canada Thistle, Cotton Thistle, Musk Thistle, Nodding Thistle, Nodding Plumeless Thistle, Russian Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Turestan Thistle, Winged Thorn-apple, Sacred Timber Milkvetch Toadflax, Dalmation Toadflax, Yellow Tobacco, Coyote Tobacco, Indian Towering Jacob’s-ladder Townsendia incana Townsendia, Hoary Townsendia, Silvery Tragopogon dubius Tragopogon porrifolius Treefoil, Birdsfoot Treefoil, Utah Tribulus terrestris Trumpet, Desert Trumpet, Fairy Tuber Starwort Tufted Evening Primrose Tumblemustard Tumbleweed Turestan Thistle

60

Uinta Groundsel Urtica dioica Utah Buttercup Utah Daisy Utah Deerclover

53 169 151 40 102

60 60 60 60 152

Utah Deervetch Utah Fleabane Utah Pickleweed Utah Samphire Utah Swampfire Utah Sweetpea Utah Sweetvetch Utah Treefoil

102 40 88 88 88 100 98 102

Veratrum californicum Verbascum thapsus Verbena, Fragrant Sand Verbena, Snowball Sand Verbana, Sweet Sand Vetch, American Vicia americana Viola nuttallii Violet, Dogtooth Violet, Nuttall’s Violet, Yellow Montane

123 163 129 129 129 109 109 170 121 170 170

Wallflower, Sanddune Wallflower, Western Wasatch Penstemon Water Hemlock Waterleaf, Ballhead Waterleaf, Capitate Wavy-leaf Paintbrush Weakstem Mariposa Lily Western Aster Western Blue Flag Western Brackenfern Western Coneflower Western Monkshood Western Paintbrush Western Ragweed Western Salsify Western Stoneseed Western Sweetanice Western Sweetroot Western Tansymustard Western Wallflower Western Whorled Milkweed Western Yarrow Whipple’s Penstemon White Jacob’s-ladder White Knapweed White Marshmarigold

71 71 161 4 113 113 156 119 58 115 143 55 144 156 19 63 68 11 11 77 71 15 16 161 138 28 147

V

61 108 35 34 51 27 27 27 89 51 17 51 164 95 157 158 166 142 138 62 62 62 63 63 101 102 171 139 136 81 133 77 89 17

W

U

176


White Sage White Sweetclover Whitetop Whitetop, Tall Whorled Milkweed Widewing Springparsley Wild Iris Wild Licorice Wild Marigold Wild Morning Glory Wildheliotrope, Cleftleaf Winged Thistle Woad, Dyer’s Woodyaster, Charming Woodyaster, Cisco Woolly Mullein Woolly Plantain Woollybase, Arizona Woollybase, Ives Woollybase, Stemless Wyethia amplexicaulis Wyoming Paintbrush

24 104 70 73 15 6 115 97 25 90 114 51 72 65 65 163 135 60 60 60 64 156

Xylorhiza venusta

65

X Y

Yarrow, Common Yarrow, Western Yellow Avalanche-lily Yellow Beeplant Yellow Blanketflower Yellow Cryptanth Yellow Evening Primrose Yellow Montane Violet Yellow Salsify Yellow Starthistle Yellow Sweetclover Yellow Toadflax

16 16 12 79 41 66 133 170 63 29 104 158

Zigadenus paniculatus

124

Z


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177


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Lommasson, T., B.C. Park, C.A. Kutzleb, O. Julander, A.R. Standing, S.S. Hutchings, L.W. Swift,E.P. Cliff, D.W. Hayes, and M.L. Bomhard. 1937. Range Plant Handbook. U.S.D.A. Forest Service. PB 168 589. Washington, D.C. 537p. Panter, K.E., M.H. Ralphs, J.A. Pfister, D.R. Gardner, B.L. Stegelmeier, S.T. Lee, K.D. Welch, B.T. Green, T.Z. Davis, and D. Cook. 2011. Plants Poisonous to Livestock in the Western States. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Bulletin No. 415 (revised). Shaw, R.J. 1995. Utah Wildflowers – A Field Guide to Northern and Central Mountains and Valleys. Utah State University Press. Logan, Utah. 218p.


Shaw, R.J. 1989. Vascular Plants of Northern Utah: An Identification Manual. Utah State University Press. Logan, Utah. 412p.

Stubbendieck, J., S.L. Hatch and C.H. Butterfield. 1997. North American Range Plants. 5th Edition. University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln, Nebraska. 501p. Taylor, R.J. 1992. Sagebrush Country – A Wildflower Sanctuary. Mountain Press Publishing Company. Missoula, Montana. 212p. Tilford, G.L. 1997. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Mountain Press Publishing Company. Missoula, Montana. 239p.

USDA, ARS. 1980. Plants Poisonous to Livestock in the Western States. Agricultural Information Bulletin 415. U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington, D.C. 90p. USDA, FS. ----. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis [2008, July 22]. [FEIS] USDA, FS. 1960. Notes on Western Range Forbs. Agriculture Handbook No. 161. Equisetaceae through Fumariaceae. Washington, D.C.

USDA, NRCS. 2007. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 22 June 2007). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. (citation must be updated on prep for printing. ↓ USDA, NRCS. 2012. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 5 April 2012). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA. Welsh, S.L. 1990. Wildflowers of Zion National Park. Zion Natural History Association. Springdale, Utah. 136p.

Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, and L.C. Higgins (eds.) 2003. A Utah Flora, 3rd Edition. Jones Endowment Fund, Monte L. Bean Life Sciences Museum, Brigham Young University. Provo, Utah. 912p. Weber, W.A. and R.C. Wittmann. 2012. Colorado Flora Western Slope Fourth Edition A Field Guide to the Vascular Plants. University Press of Colorado, Boulder. 532p.

Zomlefer, W.B. 1994. Guide to Flowering Plant Families. University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 430p.

Internet References: Central Washington Native Plants: http://www.cwnp.org/ http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/102.htm

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066213 178


http://nhp.nris.state.mt.us/plants/illust/sid821i.pdf

http://www.cwnp.org/photopgs/bdoc/bahookeri.html

Kemper Center for Home Gardening: http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/ plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=K310 Skye Flora: http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/

Malheur Experiment Station, Oregon State University: http://www.malag.aes. oregonstate.edu/wildflowers/species.php/id-86 Montana Plant-life: http://montana.plant-life.org/species/galium_boreale.htm USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center – Native flowers of North Dakota grasslands: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/wildflwr/ species/cleoserr.htm Idaho Mountain Wildflowers: http://www.larkspurbooks.com/Capparidacea.html http://incolor.inebraska.com/gibbens/Plant/rmbee.htm

Plants for a future database: http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Cleo me+serrulata&CAN=COMIND http://anthro.fortlewis.edu/ethnobotany/baca/News_Letters/Fall_97.htm lots of info –didn’t use http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Yellow%20Enlarged%20Photo%20 Pages/cleome%20lutea.htm http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/aug/papr/bbepit.html Dave’s Garden: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/32093/

http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/convarv.html

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lomatium+dissectum&CAN=COMI ND Plants for a future database:http://www.geocities.com/nutriflip/Naturopathy/ Lomatium.html http://montana.plant-life.org/index.html Montana plant life http://montana.plant-life.org/species/lomat_dissec.htm

Pictures found at: http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/Plant_Families/ Apiaceae.htm http://www.palouseprairie.org/readppf.pl?entry=LODI http://www.cwnp.org/photopgs/ldoc/lograyi.html


http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lomatium+grayi

http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Yellow%20Enlarged%20Photo%20 Pages/lomatium.htm http://permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden?plant=3890

http://montana.plant-life.org/species/merten_cilia.htm

Calflora.net: http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/deserttrumpet.html

NatureSongs.com: http://www.naturesongs.com/vvplants/deserttrumpet.html Las Pilitas Nursery: http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/289.htm

Wayne’s Word. An online textbook of natural history: http://waynesword. palomar.edu/pljuly98.htm Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/ polygonaceae.html Desert-Tropicals: http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Polygonaceae/ Eriogonum_umbellatum.html

University of Maryland, Taxonomic Eriogonioideae (Polygonaceae) of North America north of Mexico: http://www.life.umd.edu/emeritus/reveal/pbio/eriog/ oligogonum/umbellatum.html Manitobal Agriculture, Food, and Rural Initiatives. Weeds, Insects & Diseases: http://www.life.umd.edu/emeritus/reveal/pbio/eriog/oligogonum/umbellatum. html NewCROP, New Crop Resource Online Program, Purdue University: http:// newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/herbhunters/burdock.html Ag Notes, Montana State University: http://scarab.msu.montana.edu/ CropWeedSearch/Docs/BurButtercup.htm

Cookie Baby, Inc.: http://www.cookiebabyinc.com/poisonousplants/burbuttercup. html Utah Weeds and Wildflowers: http://www.softcom.net/users/naturenotes/ burbutr.htm In the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/camas.html http://www.idahonativeplants.org/inps/Chapter.aspx?ChapterId=4

Idaho Mountain Wildflowers: http://www.larkspurbooks.com/Caryoph1.html http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/science/ps/nature/basin/5petal/pink/pseudo/ jamesiana.htm Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest’ STELLARIA JAMESIANA JAMES STITCHWORT: http://www.mtnhp.org/plants/illust/sid1007i.pdf 179


2bnTheWild.com Wildflowers of the southeastern U.S.: http://2bnthewild.com/ plants/H190.htm Botanical on line: http://www.botanical-online.com/fotoscichoriumintybus.htm Boreal Forest: http://www.borealforest.org/world/herbs_shrubs/chicory.htm California Academy of the Sciences: http://www.calacademy.org/research/ botany/wildflow/names/202366.htm

Oak Point Nursery: http://www.oakpointnursery.com/Northwest%20Cinquefoil. htm Rocky Mountain Native Plants Company: http://www.rmnativeplants.com/ Herbaceous_Plants/Potentilla%20gracilis.htm


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