Pyrrocoma carthamoides
Encyclopedia
Pyrrocoma carthamoides is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name largeflower goldenweed. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to northeastern California
to Wyoming
, where it is known from grassland, woodlands, forests, barren areas, and other habitat. It is a perennial herb growing from a taproot
and producing one or more stems to about half a meter in maximum length, the stems reddish-green and leafy. The largest leaves are at the base of the stem, measuring up to 20 centimeters long, lance-shaped with spiny sawtoothed edges. Leaves higher on the stem are smaller and hairier. The inflorescence
is a single flower head
or a cluster of up to four. Each bell-shaped head is lined with phyllaries
each up to 2 centimeters long. It has many yellow disc florets surrounded by a fringe of yellow ray florets up to 7 millimeters long; ray florets are occasionally absent. The fruit is an achene
which may be well over a centimeter in length including its pappus
.
There are three varieties of this species; var. subsquarrosa is an uncommon type known only from southwestern Montana
and northwestern Wyoming
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common name largeflower goldenweed. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to northeastern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, where it is known from grassland, woodlands, forests, barren areas, and other habitat. It is a perennial herb growing from a taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
and producing one or more stems to about half a meter in maximum length, the stems reddish-green and leafy. The largest leaves are at the base of the stem, measuring up to 20 centimeters long, lance-shaped with spiny sawtoothed edges. Leaves higher on the stem are smaller and hairier. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a single flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
or a cluster of up to four. Each bell-shaped head is lined with phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
each up to 2 centimeters long. It has many yellow disc florets surrounded by a fringe of yellow ray florets up to 7 millimeters long; ray florets are occasionally absent. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
which may be well over a centimeter in length including its pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
.
There are three varieties of this species; var. subsquarrosa is an uncommon type known only from southwestern Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and northwestern Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.