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western boneset, western eupatorium, western snakeroot

Habit Perennials or subshrubs, 15–70 cm (caudices woody, rhizomatous).
Stems

(green or purple) erect or ascending, puberulent.

Leaves

opposite proximally, alternate on distal 1/4–1/2 of stems;

petioles 5–12 mm;

blades triangular to ovate, 2.5–5 × 1.7–4 cm, bases truncate to cuneate, margins serrate, apices acute, abaxial faces gland-dotted.

Peduncles

2–5 mm, minutely puberulent.

Involucres

3–3.5(–4) mm.

Corollas

pink, bluish, or white tinged with purple, lobes glabrous or glabrate.

Phyllaries

apices acute, abaxial faces viscid-puberulent and/or sessile-glandular.

Heads

clustered.

Cypselae

sessile-glandular.

2n

= 34.

Ageratina occidentalis

Phenology Flowering (Jun–)Jul–Sep.
Habitat Crevices, outcrops, rocky slopes, ridges, talus, gravelly and sandy stream bars, mixed hardwood-conifer woodlands, aspen, open and brushy vegetation
Elevation (40–50)900–2800(–3200) m ((100–200)3000–9200(–10500) ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA
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Discussion

Ageratina occidentalis is the only species of the genus in the flora area with sessile-glandular cypselae; peduncles also may be sessile-glandular. Its identity also can be confirmed among flora area species by its relatively long (5–6 mm) corollas.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 21, p. 552.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Eupatorieae > Ageratina
Sibling taxa
A. adenophora, A. altissima, A. aromatica, A. havanensis, A. herbacea, A. jucunda, A. lemmonii, A. luciae-brauniae, A. paupercula, A. rothrockii, A. shastensis, A. thyrsiflora, A. wrightii
Synonyms Eupatorium occidentale
Name authority (Hooker) R. M. King & H. Robinson: Phytologia 19: 224. (1970)
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