Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, open areas at low elevations; sagebrush and grasslands area
Flowers: April-June
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Annual
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bees, flies, beetles, wasps
Nearly glabrous branching annual, up to 3 dm. tall, the lateral branches topping the central stem.
Leaves narrowly linear, erect, 1-3 cm. long, the lower deciduous;
Heads terminating the branches, 8-80 flowered; involucre 4-7 mm. high, its bracts narrow, sub-equal, partly clasping the outer achenes; ray flowers few, pistillate and fertile, mostly 5, 3 or 8, yellowish, 1.5-2 mm. long; disk flowers perfect and fertile, yellow; receptacle flat and naked except for a row or bracts separating the ray and disk flowers; pappus of 3-5 awn-like scales.
Achenes with fine hairs.
Publication: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts. 6: 548. 1865.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Rigiopappus leptocladus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Rigiopappus leptocladus checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Rigiopappus leptocladus information.
E-Flora BC: Rigiopappus leptocladus atlas page.
CalPhotos: Rigiopappus leptocladus photos.
USDA Plants: Rigiopappus leptocladus information.
