Today the lectotype consists of a single leaf, and while diagnostic for the species, it is clear that Pursh had additional material given the floral details he includes in his description. Given the tendency for inflorescences of this species to suffer from insect damage, it is possible the inflorescence was destroyed while housed at the American Philosophical Society. However, it can not be ruled out that Pursh took leaf and flowering material to London and these have since disappeared. The lectotype was collected on the Weippe Prairie in Clearwater Co., Idaho, on 14 Jun 1806 (Moulton, 1993: 23-25). Meehan (1898: 36) reports the plant as Frasera thyrsiflora Hook. (Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 288. 1851), a later synonym. Robinson and Greenman, as well as Meehan, rather consistently do not take up Pursh names when they replace names in current use. (The Lewis & Clark Herbarium Digital Imagery Study Set, ANSP, 2002) On deposit at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Collected by:Meriwether Lewis & William Clark Collection date:06/14/1806