The glands on the Narrow-leaved Brickellia are covered
with fine hairs ( glandular-puberulent).
Being a perennial herb or
subshrub, Brickellia is 10-60 cm tall, generally with many stems from near
the base. The leaves are essentially sessile, sitting directly on the base
without support. The shape of the leaves is lance-linear
to oblong or elliptic-oblong and are 1-4 cm long and up to 15 mm wide. The
heads terminating at the end of the branches are relatively large with flowers
having reputedly 40-50 in each head.
Distribution
Map
Red dots indicate specimen records or confirmed breeding sites.
British Columbia
Narrow-leaved Brickellia is recorded in the Okanagan Highlands of southern
British Columbia near the communities of Hedley, Keremeos and Ashnola.
North America
Outside of British Columbia, Brickellia is found east of the Cascade summits
in Washington and from Montana to California and New Mexico.
Habitat
Narrow-leaved Brickellia prefer shrub-steppe and sagebrush hillsides
in dry, often rocky places, in the foothills and lowlands.
Why is it endangered?
This species along with others of the grasslands mmunities are endangered
for a number of reasons. Livestock grazing, range re-seeding and off-road
recreation have modified much of the remaining "undeveloped"
grassland areas. In addition, cultivation, agricultural and urban development,
prescribed burning, forest encroachment, road and trail development, alien
plant and animal species introductions, and hydro-electric power projects
have caused outright, irreversible losses of native grassland species
in general.
Because grasslands have been so influenced by human activities, a relatively
large number of wildlife species associated with grasslands (including
this plant species) are listed as threatened or endangered. Because of
these combined influences and the relatively limited distribution of grasslands,
"ancient" grasslands represent a much more endangered space
in British Columbia than do "ancient" or old-growth forests.
Biology
The Narrow-leaved Brickellia blooms from June to August.
Sources for more information
Related On-line Sites to Visit
Publications
The SOCAP Workshop Summary, The Nature Trust, 1989
Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock et al, 1971.
Biodiversity in British Columbia, Ministry of Environment, 1994.
Museum Specimens
Industry Canada