Semi-desert. Shrublands, openings. Spring, summer.
Arches National Park, Utah, May 4, 2005.

This massive beauty (notice the ruler in the upper right) grows to over two feet tall and four feet wide.  Bright flowers are about four inches in diameter.  Scabrethia scabra grows scattered in Blackbrush communities on open sandy areas at low altitudes.  

Scabrethia scabra was named Wyethia scabra by Hooker in 1847 and has just been renamed, for it is, in the words of Intermountain Flora, "a distinctive species, not to be confused with anything else," and in Weber's words, "not a true Wyethia, and given a new name in the... Flora of North America".  That new name, given by Weber in 1999, is Scabrethia scabra.  "Scabra" is Latin for "rough" and refers to the texture of the leaves.

Semi-desert. Shrublands, openings. Spring, summer.
Arches National Park, Utah, May 4, 2005.

Semi-desert. Shrublands, openings. Spring, summer.
Arches National Park, Utah, May 4, 2005.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Scabrethia scabra