Family: Asteraceae/ Aster
Ecology/ Botany:
This tall, tap-rooted biennial and sometimes perennial grows in dry climatic regions, often in disturbed environments. It prefers forest zones of Interior Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, and Bunchgrass. It is infrequent, scattered, and blooms in late summer. The leaves and flower heads are covered in sticky, resinous gum.
Medicinal/Traditional/Other Uses:
It has been used for the respiratory system and skin. Indigenous North Americans have used it medicinally for bronchial conditions like asthma and for skin irritations like poison ivy or oak rashes. An extract of the flowers and leaves is still used today in some modern medicines for asthma and bronchitis.
References/Other useful Links:
Parish, Coupe, Lloyd. 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. B. C. Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing.