Plants 60-150+ cm (perennating bases ± erect, internodes not winged). Leaves all or mostly opposite (distal sometimes alternate); blades ± lance-linear (lengths 10-15 times widths), 9-12(-20+) × 0.6-1.2(-1.5+) cm, bases rounded, margins obscurely toothed to subentire, apices ± attenuate, faces ± scabrellous. Heads borne singly or 3-5+ in loose, corymbiform arrays. Involucres ± hemispheric to saucerlike, 11-15+ mm diam. Phyllaries 18-24+ in 2-3 series, ± erect to spreading, linear to lance-linear, 5-15+ mm. Ray florets 12-13; laminae 15-25+ mm. Disc florets 60-100+; corollas yellow. Cypselae dark brown, oblanceolate to elliptic, 7 mm, faces glabrous; pappi 0-0.5 mm. 2n = 34.
Flowering (Jul-)Sep-Oct. Rocky slopes; 1500-2400 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango).
Duration: Perennial
Nativity: Native
Lifeform: Forb/Herb
General: Herbaceous perennials, often with an annual quiescent period, to 150 cm tall or more, stems erect, the internodes not winged.
Leaves: Opposite or the distal sometimes alternate, to 23 cm long and 18 mm wide, margins subentire to serrate, strongly veiny beneath.
Flowers: Heads radiate, rays yellow, 12-13, laminae 15-25 mm long or more, disk flowers yellow, 60-100 or more, receptacles conical, with thin bracts partly enfolding the achenes, involucres hemispheric to campanulate or saucer-like, phyllaries in 2-3 series, linear to lance-linear, 5-15 mm long, these erect to spreading, heads borne singly or in groups of 3-5 or more in loose, corymbose arrays.
Fruits: Disk achenes dark brown, oblanceolate-elliptic, narrow, flat, to 7 mm long. Pappus awns none or rudimentary.
Ecology: Found from 5,000-8,000 ft (1524-2438 m); flowering July-October.
Distribution: Arizona, New Mexico; Mexico.
Notes: Good identifiers for this species are the linear to linear-lanceolate leaves, up to 23 cm long, with serrate margins and strongly veined undersides.
Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have uses.
Etymology: Verbesina is derived from Verbena, while longifolia means long leaved.
Synonyms: Actinomeris longifolia
Editor: LCrumbacher 2011
