Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.

Habitat: Swampy places in the valleys and foothills; tolerant of alkali.

Flowers: June- September

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Biennial, Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, butterflies, flies, beetles

Robust, more or less glaucous, glabrous, fibrous-rooted perennial, 4-20 dm. tall, the stems usually clustered.

Thick and firm, usually entire but occasionally toothed, the basal and lower cauline ones long-petiolate, the blade narrowly elliptic, 10-20 cm. long and 2-5 cm. wide; middle and upper leaves few, strongly reduced, becoming sessile on the upper stem.

Heads usually numerous and crowded; involucre 5-8 mm high, narrow, its bracts usually black-tipped; rays few, 4-8 mm. long, or wanting.