Western goldentop

Euthamia californica Gandoger; E. linearifolia Gandoger; Solidago occidentalis (Nuttall) Torrey & A. Gray

Perennials or subshrubs, 40–200 cm. Stems (erect, stout) glabrous, glaucous. Leaves spreading-ascending to erect; blades 3- or -5-nerved, linear, 82–100 × 4.3–10 mm, lengths 10–27 times widths, gradually to abruptly reduced distally, herbaceous to firm-herbaceous, margins scabrous, apices abruptly acute to acuminate, faces ± gland-dotted (18–56 dots per mm²), adaxial and vein axils often sparsely hairy. Heads mostly pedunculate, in relatively narrow, elongate arrays 33–60% of plant heights (often interrupted and with multiple levels). Involucres campanulate, 3.7–4.9 mm. Phyllaries stramineous, sometimes green-tipped, outer narrowly lanceolate, inner linear (firm), apices acute to acuminate. Ray florets (15–)17–22(–28). Disc florets (7–)9–11(–18); corollas 3.1–4.2 mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul–Nov. Moist to wet soils of streambeds, lake shores, and fresh to saline marshes; 0–1600 m; B.C.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Mexico (Baja California).