Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Asterales - Family: Asteraceae
This lovely sunflower forms large, attractive clumps up to a metre in height. The easiest way to distinguish Arrowleaf Balsamroot from other sunflowers is by the silvery-green arrow-head-shaped leaves.
The range of the plant extends from British Columbia and south to Colorado and central California. It is one of many sunflowers found in the Rocky Mountains.
Arrowleaf Balsamroot grows on well-drained soil in open woodland sites exposed to plenty of sunshine. It blooms from late May to July and grows
American Indians used the seeds of Arrowleaf Balsamroot to make a kind of flour known as pinole.
Balsamorhiza, the genus name, means 'balsam root'. The specific epithet sagittata means 'arrow shaped' - a reference to the leaves of this plant, which are shaped like arrowheads.
The specimen shown on this page was photographed in Yellowstone National Park in early July.