Saussurea americana

American saw-wort

Family: Asteraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2

American saw-wort is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges in meadows and slopes at elevations of 1,700 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white to dark purple flowers in compact clusters with pale green involucres 10 to 15 millimeters long. Growing with erect stems 30 to 120 centimeters tall emerging from a stout caudex, the plant has several to many stems that are loosely hairy and slightly glandular. Its lower leaves are 5 to 15 centimeters long, lanceolate to triangular in shape, with sharply toothed edges and pointed tips. The fruit is 4 to 6 millimeters long, with brown pappus bristles varying from 7 to 10 millimeters in length.

Habitat: Meadows, slopes

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 1700-1800 m

Bioregions: KR

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.