Blooms: July - August
Habit: herb
Duration: perennial
Origin: Native
Distribution: Olympic and Cascade Mountains of Washington, northeast Oregon, central Idaho and northwest Montana
Habitat: Meadows and open, often rocky slopes, where moist, at mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Habit: herb
Duration: perennial
Origin: Native
Distribution: Olympic and Cascade Mountains of Washington, northeast Oregon, central Idaho and northwest Montana
Habitat: Meadows and open, often rocky slopes, where moist, at mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Species Description:
General: Coarse, fibrous-rooted perennial, the several stout stems 5-12 dm. tall, lightly covered with woolly hairs when young.
Leaves: Numerous, sharply-toothed, gradually reduced upward, the lower petiolate, the blade triangular-ovate to triangular-cordate, up to 15 cm. long and half as wide, the upper lanceolate, becoming sessile.
Flowers: Inflorescence somewhat flat-topped, the heads rayless; involucre 10-14 mm. high, narrow, its bracts firm, pale with dark margins and tips, well imbricate, mostly acute, broad, the short outer ones ovate; flowers typically about 13, violet-purple or rarely white.
Distinguishing Characteristics: The unique flower color, the mountain habitat, and the triangular, sharp-toothed but spineless leaves should identify this member of the Thistle Tribe.
General: Coarse, fibrous-rooted perennial, the several stout stems 5-12 dm. tall, lightly covered with woolly hairs when young.
Leaves: Numerous, sharply-toothed, gradually reduced upward, the lower petiolate, the blade triangular-ovate to triangular-cordate, up to 15 cm. long and half as wide, the upper lanceolate, becoming sessile.
Flowers: Inflorescence somewhat flat-topped, the heads rayless; involucre 10-14 mm. high, narrow, its bracts firm, pale with dark margins and tips, well imbricate, mostly acute, broad, the short outer ones ovate; flowers typically about 13, violet-purple or rarely white.
Distinguishing Characteristics: The unique flower color, the mountain habitat, and the triangular, sharp-toothed but spineless leaves should identify this member of the Thistle Tribe.
Accepted Name:
Saussurea americana D.C. EatonSynonyms:
(none)
Treated in Flora of the PNW as:
Saussurea americana
Additional Resources:
PNW Herbaria Specimens: View list of Saussurea americana specimens in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WTU Herbarium Specimens: View list of Saussurea americana specimens in the WTU Herbarium database.
Washington Flora Checklist: Saussurea americana treatment.
E-Flora BC: Saussurea americana atlas page.
CalPhotos: Saussurea americana images.
USDA Plants Database: Saussurea americana.
Ben Legler, 2004
Ben Legler, 2004
Rod Gilbert , 2005
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 WA Native Plant Society |
