About Balsamorhiza macrolepis Sharp
Balsamorhiza macrolepis is a perennial herb with a taproot that grows in an erect form, reaching between 20 and 60 centimeters in height. It produces large, lobed leaves that range in shape from lance-like to oval. The largest leaves are usually found toward the base of the plant, and can grow nearly 50 centimeters, or 20 inches, long. The leaves are colored from bright to dull grayish-green, and are covered in a coating of fine hairs. The plant's inflorescence holds a single flower head. This flower head is lined with hairy, glandular phyllaries that can reach up to 4 centimeters in length. The center of the head is made up of yellowish disc florets, and it is surrounded by a fringe of pointed yellow ray florets, each between 2 and 3 centimeters long.
