[Members of the Sunflower Family with Button-like Heads in Mt. Adams Country]

Western Boneset, Western Eupatorium, Western Snakeroot

Ageratina occidentalis

Synonym: Eupatorium occidentale

Western Boneset, Western Eupatorium, Western Snakeroot: Ageratina occidentalis (Synonym: Eupatorium occidentale)

The photo above shows a nice mass of western eupatorium as seen from the slopes of a small gravel pit alongside the road to Cloud Cap Inn on the northeast side of Mt. Hood.........August 2, 2007.
Characteristics:

Western eupatorium is a rhizomatous perennial. It has several stems which rise from a woody base. The plant may arise to a height of 70 cm. The leaves are alternate, and occasionally opposite. The leaves are petiolate, serrate, and are narrowly to widely deltoid, or deltoid ovate. The flower heads are small, clustered primarily at the end of the stems. The flowers are pink, reddish-purple, or sometimes white. Nine to twentyone disc flowers are found in each head.

Habitat:

Western eupatorium is a plant of dry, rocky areas.

Range:

Western eupatorium is found from central Washington south (east of the Cascades) to California, and eastward into Idaho and Utah.

Western Boneset, Western Eupatorium, Western Snakeroot: Ageratina occidentalis (Synonym: Eupatorium occidentale) - Western Boneset, Western Eupatorium, Western Snakeroot: Ageratina occidentalis (Synonym: Eupatorium occidentale)

Two close-up sideviews of the inflorescence of western eupatorium as seen from the slopes of a small gravel pit alongside the road to Cloud Cap Inn on the northeast side of Mt. Hood........August 2, 2007.
Paul Slichter