Shrubs, 30-70 cm. Stems much branched, pubescent, gland-dotted. Leaves alternate; petioles 0-3 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, ovate to suborbiculate, 3-20 × 1-15 mm, bases acute to obtuse or rounded, margins entire, coarsely dentate or serrate, apices rounded to acute, faces glandular-villous or hispidulous. Heads in loose, paniculiform arrays (often clustered at ends of branches). Peduncles (bracteate) 2-10 mm, viscid to glandular-villous. Involucres cylindric to narrowly campanulate, 7-12 mm. Phyllaries 30-48 in 5-8 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 3-5-striate, (recurved or spreading) unequal, margins scarious (apices acute to acuminate); outer obovate to suborbiculate (glandular-pubescent; mid sometimes 3-toothed with middle tooth elongated), inner linear-oblong (glabrous or sparsely gland-dotted). Florets 8-28(-34); corollas pale yellow, often purple-tinged, 5.5-7 mm. Cypselae 3.5-4.7 mm, glabrous or hirtellous; pappi of 18-24 white, barbellulate bristles.

Common Name: littleleaf brickellbush

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Subshrub

General: Rounded shrub 30-70 cm tall with glandular pubescent branches, much branched.

Leaves: Alternate, on petioles 0-3 mm, blades 3-nerved from bases, ovate to suborbiculate, 3-20 mm long by 1-15 mm wide, bases acute to obtuse or rounded; margins entire to coarsely dentate or serrate, with few teeth when present; rounded to acute apices; faces glandular-villous or hispidulous.

Flowers: Heads in loose clusters at end of branches on peduncles 2-10 mm long, viscid to glandular villous; involucres cylindric to narrowly campanulate, 7-12 mm; phyllaries 30-48 in 5-8 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 3-5 striate, recurved or spreading and unequal tips, with scarious margins; florets 8-28, with pale yellow corollas, often purple tinged, 5.5-7 mm.

Fruits: Cypselae (achenes) 3.5-4.7 mm long, glabrous or hirtellous, with pappi of 18-24 white, barbellulate bristles.

Ecology: Found in dry rocky soils of canyons, or along washes from 4,000-8,000 ft (1219-2438 m); flowers July-October.

Notes: This is most likely B. microphylla var. watsonii, which is weakly distinguished from B. microphylla var. microphylla in FNA. It is thought to be recognized by its being tomentose-puberulent, often gland-dotted covering of the plant (where var. microphylla is glandular-villous) and var. watsonii has about 18 flowers (where var. microphylla has 15-34). Distinguished from other Brickellia on the whole by the recurved involucre bracts.

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

Etymology: Brickellia is named for Dr. John Brickell (1749-1809), while microphylla means littleleaf.

Synonyms: Brickellia cedrosensis, Bulbostylis microphylla, Coleosanthus cedrosensis

Editor: SBuckley, 2010