orange agoseris

Agoseris aurantiaca is a perennial herb or subshrub growing to 60 centimeters (24 inches) in height. It produces a basal rosette of leaves, which are 5–35 cm (2–14 in) long and entire or with irregular tooth-like lobes. There is no stem, but it does produce several stem-like peduncles. Between June and August, each peduncle bears a single flower head 2.5 cm (1 in) in width, surrounded by glabrous to hairy phyllaries. The head is ligulate, containing several ray florets but no disc florets. The florets are most commonly orange but are occasionally yellow, pink, red, or purple. The binominal name "Aurantiaca" means "orange-red". The flower head matures into a ball-like head of beaked achenes, each with a terminal pappus of numerous, white bristles. It is the only orange-flowered species in the genus, the others typically being yellow.

Varieties Agoseris aurantiaca var. aurantiaca – most of species range Agoseris aurantiaca var. purpurea (A.Gray) Cronquist – southern Rocky Mountains

The species is widespread and common in western North America from Alaska and the Northwest Territories in Canada, southward to California, Arizona, and New Mexico, and eastward as far as the Rocky Mountains and the Black Hills. There are also isolated populations in the Chic-Choc Mountains on the Gaspé Peninsula and in the Otish Mountains of central Quebec. It is primarily a species of mountainous regions and may be found in wet to dry habitats.

A cold infusion of this plant is used by the Ramah Navajo for protection against witches.