Perennials, 60-120 cm (bases woody). Stems branched, puberulent, gland-dotted. Leaves alternate; petioles 10-50 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, deltate or rhombic-ovate, 50-100 × 20-50 mm, bases acute to truncate, margins crenate or coarsely dentate, apices long-acuminate, abaxial faces sparsely villous, gland-dotted, adaxial faces glabrous or sparsely pubescent, often gland-dotted. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 4-6 mm, puberulent, sparsely gland-dotted. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 7-10 mm. Phyllaries 22-26 in 4-7 series, 3-5-striate, unequal, margins scarious (apices obtuse to acute); outer ovate to lanceolate (often purple-tinged, glabrous or puberulent), inner linear to oblong (greenish, glabrous). Florets 13-20; corollas yellowish, 5.3-6.5 mm. Cypselae 2-2.5 mm, sericeous; pappi of 26-32 white, barbellate bristles. 2n = 18.

Flowering Aug-Oct. Rocky slopes, shaded areas; 1500-2500 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico.

Brickellia rusbyi has been considered ill-smelling.

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Subshrub

General: Herbaceous perennial from woody base, 60-120 cm tall, stems branched, puberulent, gland-dotted.

Leaves: Alternate on petioles 10-50 mm, blades 3-nerved from bases, deltate or rhombic-ovate, 5-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide, bases acute to truncate, margins crenate to coarsely dentate, apices long acuminate, lower surface paler and sparsely villous, gland-dotted, upper face glabrous or sparsely pubescent, often gland-dotted.

Flowers: Heads in paniculiform arrays, on peduncles 4-6 mm, puberulent, sparsely gland-dotted; involucres cylindric to campanulate 7-10 mm; phyllaries 22-26 in 4-7 series, 3-5 striate, unequal, margins scarious with obtuse to acute apices; florets 13-20, corollas yellowish, 5.3-6.5 mm.

Fruits: Cypselae 2-2.5 mm, sericeous, pappi of 26-32 white, barbellate bristles.

Ecology: Found on rocky slopes, often in shaded areas from 5,000-8,500 ft (1524-2591 m); flowers August-October.

Notes: Plant is considered malodorous.

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

Etymology: Brickellia is named for Dr. John Brickell (1749-1809), while rusbyi is named for Henry Hurd Rusbyi (1855-1940) prominent in the development of economic botany, who collected in Arizona in the 1880s.

Synonyms: None

Editor: SBuckley, 2010