[The False Dandelions of the Columbia River Gorge]
Orange Agoseris

Agoseris aurantiaca

The flower head of orange agoseris from near Broken Top, Three Sisters Wilderness in the central Oregon Cascades.
Orange agoseris from a moist meadow along the Wildhorse Lake Trail on the Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon...........July 16, 2000.
Characteristics:

Orange agoseris is an attractive perennial wildflower with erect stems arising from basal leaves to a height ranging from 10-60 cm high. The herbage ranges from smooth to covered with long, smooth hairs. The long narrow leaves range from 5-35 cm long and 1-30 mm wide. They are narrowly oblanceolate in shape, tapering gradually to a petiole and more quickly to a pointed tip. The margins may be entire or occasionally lobed.

Single flower heads are found atop each leafless scape. The flower heads are dandylion-like, but with burnt orange flowers which may turn purple, deep pink upon aging or drying.

Habitat:

Orange Agoseris may be found at moderate to high elevations in mountain meadows and woodlands.

Range:

Orange Agoseris may be found from British Columbia and Alberta east to Quebec and south to California and New Mexico.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found west of the Cascade Crest on the higher peaks between the elevations of 3800'-4500'.

 

Involucral bracts of orange agoseris from along the Wildhorse Lake Trail on the Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon...........July 16, 2000.

Basal leaf of orange agoseris from along the Wildhorse Lake Trail on the Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon...........July 16, 2000.
Paul Slichter