Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland Washington; southern Vancouver Island to southwest Oregon.
Habitat: Prairies and open areas at low elevations.
Flowers: July-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Sensitive in Washington (WANHP)
Pollination: Bees, flies, butterflies
Nearly glabrous perennial from slender, creeping rhizomes, the stem 1-3 dm. tall, usually simple and unbranched up to the inflorescence.
Lowermost leaves reduced and early-deciduous, the largest ones a little above the base, 2.5-3.5 cm. long and 5-9 mm. wide, oblanceolate, sessile; those leaves above numerous and gradually reduced; often scabrous on the midrib beneath, and with stiff, short hairs on the margins.
Heads in a close terminal cluster; involucre 7-9 mm. high, narrow, the bracts imbricate, white and papery below with a light green herbaceous tip; rays usually 2, shorter than the capillary pappus, 1-3 mm. long, white; disk flowers 9-21, pale yellowish, with purple anthers.
Achedne.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Sericocarpus rigidus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Sericocarpus rigidus checklist entry
OregonFlora: Sericocarpus rigidus information
E-Flora BC: Sericocarpus rigidus atlas page
CalPhotos: Sericocarpus rigidus photos