El Dorado Mule Ears
(Wyethia reticulata )
Asteraceae

BLM Photograph

Description:  Perennial herb reaching 16-28 inches (40-70 cm) tall.  Leaf blades 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, lanceolate to triangular, with veins on underside.  Involucre 3/4-1 1/4 inches (2-3 cm) in diameter, hemispheric to bell-shaped. 10-21 ray flowers that are yellow in color.  Flowering head up to 3 1/4 inches (8cm) in diameter. Fruit 1/4 inch (5-6 mm) long and smooth (glabrous).

Distribution: This species occurs only on the Pine Hill gabbro formation of western El Dorado County.  From Cameron Park to Salmon Falls, BLM manages a number of areas of habitat for this species.

Habitat: Chaparral, foothill woodland, lower montane coniferous forest, on clay or gabbroic soils from 1000 to 1600 feet (300-500 meters).

Flowering Period:  May-July

Similar Plants:

Status: BLM Sensitive, California Native Plant Society List 1B