Picrothamnus
bud sagebrush, budsage
1–10+, usually erect, diffusely branched from bases and throughout (some laterals persistent, forming thorns), villous to arachnose (hairs medifixed).
mostly cauline; alternate;
petiolate or sessile;
blades ± orbiculate to flabellate, simple or 1–2-pedately lobed (lobes orbiculate to spatulate or linear), ultimate margins entire, faces ± villous and gland-dotted.
± obconic, 2–3(–5) mm diam.
convex (glabrous), epaleate.
0 (peripheral pistillate florets 2–8; corollas pale yellow, ± filiform, ± villous).
5–13(–15), functionally staminate;
corollas pale yellow (± villous), tubes ± cylindric, throats campanulate, lobes 5, ± deltate.
persistent, 5–8 in ± 2 series, distinct, ± obovate, subequal, margins and apices (hyaline) narrowly scarious.
disciform, usually (2–12+) in ± leafy, racemiform to spiciform arrays, rarely borne singly.
(brown) obovoid to ellipsoid, ribs 0, faces ± villous and obscurely nerved (pericarps without myxogenic cells or resin sacs);
pappi 0.
= 9.
Picrothamnus
Species 1.
Separation of Picrothamnus from Artemisia calls attention to differing views of generic circumscription within Anthemideae (see discussion under Artemisia). Distinguished by its spinescent branches and relatively large heads held among the leaves, Picrothamnus is among the more distinct of proposed segregates. The diffuse-porous woods (S. Carlquist 1966) correspond to the early spring-blooming phenology of the plants and provide an anatomic feature that helps to distinguish Picrothamnus from Artemisia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
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