Question: Hello, I submitted a query as to the identity of this plant, but I now believe it is rattlesnake-root, perhaps …
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Question
Hello, I submitted a query as to the identity of this plant, but I now believe it is rattlesnake-root, perhaps either Nabalus altissimus or N. trifoliatus. And what I thought looked like "spines" on the leaf margins are actually teeth. I gather what sets these two species apart are the # of flowers in the flower head and the # of involucral bracts. Is that correct? Does the plant I photographed have 2 sets of involucral bracts or are those long petal-like parts ray flowers?Thanks.
Answer
Dear sldz22, that was my thought as well (you should receive my response shortly). The involucre (the series of bracts at the base of each flower head) are composed of two series, a shorter series and a longer series. Typically, this species has about 5 longer involucral bracts and about 5 ray flowers contained within each set of bracts. Best wishes.
