A whitish hairy plant, growing to a height of 2.5 - 30 cm.

Description

Distinguishing Features - Leaves: 7.5 - 10 cm, pinnately divided into narrow segments. Flowers: head 7.5 - 11.3 cm wide; with 20 or more rays surrounding a broad, orange disk, and numerous very narrow, woolly bracts. Fruit: seed-like, 5-sided, densely hairy, narrow, with 5 to 8 narrow, stiff scales at top.

Habitat

Widespread along the western regions dividing Canada and the United States (49th parallel); on rocky slopes, high meadows, and tundra.

Notes

Of about 20 species of western North American Wild Sunflowers, the Alpine Sunflower has the largest and prettiest flower, hence the name grandiflora, meaning "large-flowered".

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