Klamath coneflower

Rudbeckia californica A. Gray var. intermedia Perdue, Rhodora 59: 289. 1957

Perennials, 50–100 cm (rhizomatous, roots fibrous). Leaves greenish blue (± glaucous), blades ovate to elliptic, often lobed, herbaceous, bases attenuate to rounded, margins entire, coarsely dentate, or crenate, apices acute, faces glabrous or sparsely hairy (at least on abaxial veins); basal petiolate, 15–65 × 4–15 cm; cauline petiolate or sessile, 7–35 × 4–14 cm. Heads borne singly or (2–10) in ± corymbiform arrays. Phyllaries to 1.5 cm (margins ciliate, hairs appressed, apices acute to rounded). Receptacles ovoid to conic; paleae 5–6 mm, apices acute, abaxial tips hairy. Ray florets 7–15; laminae elliptic or oblong, 25–35 × 7–14 mm, abaxially hairy. Discs 15–35 × 12–22 mm. Disc florets 180–300+; corollas yellowish green, 3.5–4 mm; style branches ca. 1.5 mm, apices acute to obtuse. Cypselae 4.5–6 mm; pappi coroniform or of 5–8 scales, to 1.5 mm. 2n = 36.

Flowering late summer–fall. Along streams; of conservation consern; 1000–1600 m; Calif.