49 



C. DESCRIPTION 



1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Balsamorhiza 

 macrophvlla is a robust perennial herb arising from 

 a large taproot. Several branches may surmount the 

 taproot. The large (3-6 dm) lobed leaves are 

 clustered at the base and may be sparsely to 

 evidently hairy with long hairs. One to several 

 large sunflower-like heads arise from the center. 

 The heads consist of yellow tubular flowers in the 

 center surrounded by yellow ray flowers which are 

 3.5-5.5 cm long. Montana plants bloom in June and 

 July. 



2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Robust perennial herb from 

 a taproot surmounted by erect branches arising 

 underground; leaves 3-6 dm long divided into large 

 few-toothed to entire segments 5-12 cm long, 

 glandular below, sparsely to evidently hirsute 

 above; stems 3-10 dm; heads large, subtended by 

 long, leafy bracts which may surpass the disk; 

 achenes glabrous (adapted from Cronquist 1955) . 



3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Balsamorhiza macrophvlla 

 is easily distinguished from the more common B. 

 saqittata by its segmented leaves. In addition, 

 the leaves of B. macrophvlla lack the dense leaf 

 pubescence of B. saqittata . and therefore appear 

 greener. 



D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 



1. RANGE: Balsamorhiza macrophvlla is a Great Basin 

 species occurring in the Wasatch area of northern 

 Utah, extending into the mountains of southeast 

 Idaho, through western Wyoming to the edge of the 

 Snake River plains, then extending east to Clark 

 County, Idaho and north to Gallatin County, Montana 

 (Cronquist 1955) . 



2. CURRENT SITES (MONTANA): Balsamorhiza macrophvlla 

 is currently known from only one site in Montana. 

 This site occurs on Gallatin National Forest lands. 

 Location data are provided in the element 

 occurrence print-out, p. 53, and the population 

 location is indicated on the map on p. 54. 

 Photographs are provided on pp. 55-56. Field 

 surveys were conducted by the author and Lisa 

 Schassberger (Montana Natural Heritage Program) on 

 16 June 1989, and by the author on 5-6 July 1989, 3 

 August 1989, and 24 August 1989. 



3. HISTORICAL SITES (MONTANA): Two collections of 

 Balsamorhiza macrophvlla from the Gallatin National 



