[Members of the
Sunflower Family with Flower Heads like Sunflowers or Daisies]
Hairy False Goldenaster, Hairy Goldaster, Hairy Goldenaster, Leafy Goldenaster
Heterotheca villosa var. villosa
Synonyms: Chrysopsis villosa var. foliosa, Chrysopsis villosa var. villosa, Heterotheca villosa var. foliosa
The photo above shows a close-up of the flower head of hairy goldaster as seen in sandy soils east of US Highway 97 along Washington State Road 14..........August 22, 2007.
Close-up at right
of the involucral bracts of hairy goldaster as seen in sandy soils east of US Highway 97 along Washington State Road 14..........August 22, 2007.
Characteristics:
Hairy goldaster is a perennial wildflower that arises from a somewhat woody base.
It ranges form 10 - 50 cm in height. The lower leaves tend to be deciduous,
the upper ones persisting. The leaves and stems tend to be more or less hairy,
glandular, or both. The leaves are up to 5 cm in length and up to 1 cm wide.
Individual leaves are oblanceolate to spatulate in shape.
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 short
corymbiform inflorescence. The 10- 25 rays are about 6- 10 mm long. The involucre
ranges from 5- 10 mm tall, with the bracts long and thin, gradually tapering
to a point.
In the Columbia River Gorge, hairy goldaster is a long blooming
wildflower and may be found in bloom from May until early October.
Habitat:
Hairy goldaster is found in sunny, open locations, frequently
in sandy soils.
Range:
Hairy goldaster is found east of the Cascade Mountain crest,
from British Columbia, south through Washington and Oregon to California, and
eastward to Saskatchewan, Illinois, and Texas.
In the Columbia River Gorge, hairy goldaster is found east of
the Little White Salmon River at elevations below 700'.
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The photo at left shows a sideview of the involucral bracts and upper stem leaves as seen in sandy soils east of US Highway 97 along Washington State Road 14..........August 22, 2007. Note the numerous shorter grayish hairs across the surface of the stems and leaves as well as the longer, spreading hairs along the margins of the leaves. The photo at right shows late-blooming hairy goldasters several miles upstream along trails at the lower Deschutes River......November 20, 2020.
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Two photos showing close-ups of the seed heads as well as the flower head of hairy goldaster as seen at Horsethief Butte...........October
7, 2006.
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Both photos above show close-up views of the entire plants of hairy goldaster as seen along the old highway about one mile east of Celilo, OR..........September 1, 2007.
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Hairy goldaster as seen at left on sandy southeast-facing slopes at Mill Creek Ridge several miles outside of The Dalles, OR...........September 18, 2013. The photo at right shows hairygoldenaster still in bloom on gravelly soils immediately above the Crawford Oaks Trailhead at Columbia Hills Historical State Park.....November 2, 2022.
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Hairy goldaster (var. villosa) still in bloom along the old rail trail above the east bank of the Deschutes River about a mile and a half upstream of the Columbia River, Deschutes River State Recreation Area..........November 12, 2017.
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Hairy goldaster (var. villosa) still in bloom along with seed heads at the Courtney Road trailhead for Coyote Wall, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.......October 30, 2018.
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Hairy goldaster still in bloom along trails at the lower Deschutes River.......January 4, 2019.
Hairy goldaster as seen along the trail at the Labyrinth, about 60 meters uphill from the old highway, Columbia River Gorge...........August 29, 2013.
Paul Slichter