Brickellia pringlei A. Gray
Family: Asteraceae
Pringle's Brickellbush
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Perennials, 40-80 cm (caudices woody). Stems branched, pubescent, gland-dotted. Leaves opposite; petioles 2-4 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases (abaxial venation raised, reticulate), lanceolate to oblong, 35-60 × 10-20 mm, bases acute or rounded, margins serrate, apices acute, faces sparsely to densely pubescent, gland-dotted. Heads borne singly (in axils) or in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles (bracteate) 1-8 mm, densely tomentose. Involucres cylindric to turbinate, 13-15 mm. Phyllaries 34-40 in 6-8 series, greenish to stramineous, 5-8-striate, unequal, margins scarious (ciliate, apices acute); outer ovate to lance-ovate (often villous toward tips), inner lanceolate (glabrous). Florets 19-24; corollas pale yellow, 8-9.5 mm. Cypselae 3.5-4 mm, hirsute; pappi of 26-42 white, barbellate bristles. 2n = 18.

Flowering Apr-Jun. Canyons, open rocky slopes; 1200-1700 m; Ariz.; Mexico.

FNA 2006

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Subshrub

General: Perennial from woody caudex, 40-80 cm tall, stems branched, pubescent, gland-dotted.

Leaves: Opposite, on petioles 2-4 mm, blades 3-nerved from bases with raised venation, reticulate; lanceolate to oblong, 3.5-6 cm long by 1-2 cm wide, bases acute or rounded, margins serrate, acute apex, faces sparsely to densely pubescent, gland dotted.

Flowers: Heads borne singly in axils or in paniculiform arrays, on peduncles 1-8 mm, densely tomentose; involucres cylindric to turbinate, 13-15 mm, phyllaries 34-40 in 6-8 series, greenish to stramineous, 5-8 striate, unequal, margins scarious, ciliate with acute apices; florets 19-24, corollas pale yellow, 89.5 mm.

Fruits: Cypselae 3.5-4 mm, hirsute, pappi of 26-42 white, barbellate bristles.

Ecology: Found on open rocky slopes, often in canyons from 4,000-6,000 ft (1219-1829 m); flowers April-June.

Notes: Distinguished by its having crenate to serrate leaf margins, 35-40 phyllaries, and short bracteate peduncles. Similar to B. venosa which has more linear leaves, and B. amplexicaulis with clasping leaf bases.

Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have uses.

Etymology: Brickellia is named for Dr. John Brickell (1749-1809), while pringlei is named for Cyrus Guernsey Pringle (1838-1911) who collected in the southwest for Asa Gray in the 1880s.

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley, 2010