SafePlants

Silky Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sericea)

Balsamorhiza sericea, commonly known as silky balsamroot, is a flowering plant belonging to the sunflower tribe within the Asteraceae (sunflower) family.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Balsamorhiza sericea W.A. Weber
• Common Name: Silky Balsamroot, Silvery Balsamroot
• Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonym: Mentions of hybrid Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza deltoidea x sericea) suggest potential taxonomic complexity.

Distribution and Habitat

• Silky balsamroot is native to western North America, including the United States and Canada.
• Specifically found west of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington.
• Observed in locations such as O'Brien, OR, and the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest, Days Gulch Botanical Area, Selma, OR.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Balsamorhiza sericea is described as a perennial herb and a forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
• Stems and flowers are often covered in grey silky substances.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Observed alongside other plants such as silky lupine, bitterbrush, penstemons, sagebrush buttercup, serviceberry, Howell's microseris, western senecio, yarrow, and rosy pussytoes.
• Often observed in areas with bluebunch wheatgrass, rough fescue and Idaho fescue.

Resources and Further Information

• Discover Life offers a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Balsamorhiza sericea.
• Photographs are available at CalPhotos and Getty Images.
• The USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database is a potential source of information, although the text references it primarily for Balsamorhiza sagittata.

Quirky Facts

• After flowering, the plant grows a "silky head of hair," leading to the nickname "Old Man of the Mountain."