76 



WILD FLOWERS OF CALIFORNIA 



860. Cone Flower 



Rudbeckia Californica 



Wet, grassy places m the 

 Sierras. Perennial, yel- 

 low rays with dark-brown 

 center. 



861. 



SUNFLOWER TRIBE 

 Eclipta alba 



HELIANTHEAE 

 Reported 



by Parish as a 

 common weed in Im- 

 perial Valley. By Jepson, 

 Islands of the Sacramento 

 River. 



BALSAM ROOT SUNFLOWER BALSAMORHIZA 



Low perennials with large roots from which arise tufts of radical leaves and 

 heads of large yellow flowers on stalks which extend slightly beyond the leafage. 



Much prized range forage plants especially for sheep and horses. They find 

 it palatable even when the leaves are dried up. 



The thick roots after being peeled were cooked and eaten by Indians for food. 



862. Balsamorhiza sagittata Common in open parks, yel- 



low pine region, eastern 

 Sierras. Leaves on long 

 petioles. Blades cordate- 

 sagittate, entire. 



863. 



864. 



865. 



Balsamorhiza Hookeri 



Balsamorhiza deltoidea 



Balsamorhiza Bolanderi 



In same general region, but 

 extending to the coast, 

 where it is rare. Leaves 

 pinnately parted or di- 

 vided. 



Similar to 862, leaves more 

 or less serrate, heart- 

 shaped, southern Sierras 

 to Oregon. 



Smaller plant with only a 

 few leaves. Auburn, Si- 

 erras. 



MULE'S EARS WYETHIA 



The name is appropriate except in the species that have no pubescence on 

 the leaves when we must consider that the ears have been shaved. They are 

 perennial plants with large tufts of leaves. At the base the leaves gradually emerge 

 into the petiole and are not lobed as in Balsam root. Otherwise similar in appear- 

 ance. 



They are not considered as good range forage as the Balsam Root, only the 

 more tender leaves being eaten from the center of the clumps along with large 

 yellow flowers. 



Some of the species cover large areas in the open yellow pine forests. They 

 are found both in the Coast Ranges and the Sierras. 



866. 



867. 

 868. 

 869. 

 870. 

 870a. 



871. 



872. 

 873. 



Wyethia mollis 



Wyethia heleniodes 



Wyethia glabra 



Wyethia angustifolia 



Wyethia ovata 



Wyethia amplexicaulis 



Verbesina encelioidcs 



and var. 

 Verbesina dissita 

 Verbesina australis 



Abundant in large patches 



in the Sierras. 

 Coast Ranges. 



Southern Sierras. 

 Trinity County. 



Erect branching annuals, 



yellow flowers, acbcnes 



winged. Pappus of two 



awns. Southern Califor- 

 nia. 



