The
photo at right shows a close-up view of the glabrous involucral bracts of nodding
microseris as seen along Road K6000 at about 2800' on the southeastern slopes
of Mt. Adams........May 23, 2005.
Nodding microseris is an attractive pereenial wildflower wit a form somewhat reminiscent of a dandylion. Its herbage is generally smooth to slightly rough and is highly variable in form, ranging from decumbent forms to 10 cm high to erect, much branched forms to 60 cm high. The former plants tend to have narrow, laciniate leaves with small, solitary flower heads while the larger forms have several larger heads as well as larger, wider leaves. The leaves are either basal or found on the lower stems.
The flower heads consist of many yellowish ray flowers, with each head found at the end of a branch. The involucre on larger plants may reach 2 cm in length with the outer involucral bracts shorter than the inner bracts. The species gets its common name due to the pendant nature of the flower buds which only become erect as the flower begins to bloom.
Nodding microseris may be found in moist, open places in the foothills and lowlands. It may be found in open oak forests in the Columbia River Gorge as well as in open coniferous woods at higher elevations.
Nodding microseris may be found from British Columbia south (entirely east of the Cascade crest) to California and east to Montana, Colorado and Utah.
In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found from the Wind River east to the Klickitat River between the elevations of 200'-4400'.
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