Closeup of the involucre of hairy goldaster, from the Deschutes River, north-central
Oregon..........October 1997.
Hairy goldaster is a weed-like perennial from a branching woody base. It ranges from 10 - 50 cm in height with lax to erect, branching stems. The herbage is hairy, glandular, or both. The lower leaves tend to be deciduous, the upper ones persisting. The leaves are up to 5 cm in length and up to 1 cm wide.
The flower heads are sunflower-like, with both ray and disk flowers. The ray and disc flowers are both yellow. The flower heads form a chort corymbiform inflorescence. The 10- 25 rays are about 6- 10 mm long. The involucre is about 5- 10 mm tall, with the bracts long and thin, gradually tapering to a point.
Hairy goldaster is found in sunny, open locations, frequently in sandy soils or on gravelly streambanks. It may be found from the lowlands to 3300 meters in the mountains.
Hairy goldaster is found east of the Cascade Mountain crest, from British Columbia, wouth through Washington and Oregon to California, and eastward to Saskatchewan, Illinois, and Texas.
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Close-up images of the flower heads of hairy goldaster as seen along the Deschutes River in north-central Oregon.........October, 2006.
Hairy goldaster observed on Missoula Flood sand and gravel bars above the Little Spokane River near Spokane, Washington........October25, 2021.
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Hairy goldaster from the Deschutes River, north-central Oregon..........October 1997.