XPyrrocoma crocea - Curlyhead goldenweedX
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Curlyhead goldenweed (Pyrrocoma crocea), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower)
This tall species offers an eye-catching sight during the summer months, usually. The species is found in somewhat restricted areas of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and is more widespread in Arizona.
There are two varieties of crocea. Per Flora of North America: Variety crocea flowering Jul?Oct. Moist, alkaline meadows, openings in pine forest; 1900?2800 m; Colo., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo. Variety crocea has the largest and most attractive heads in the genus and is often used as an ornamental. Variety genuflexa flowering Jul?Oct. Mountain meadows, moist slopes; 2100?2900 m; Ariz. It is recognized by its relatively short stems, small and narrow leaves, and small heads. It is known from the type locality and nearby locations.
Flower -
Plant location: First found on Boreas Pass - Colorado - September 14, 2008. For many years we thought the plant was Orange Sneezweed. The plants were quite mature and not in the best of shape. We found Pyrrocoma crocea again exploring Rabbit Ears Pass - Colorado - July 5, 2011. Photos are from that sighting unless specified.
See the BONAP distribution map here.
Plant -
Bloom season: Typically from June through August. Pyrrocoma crocea var. crocea is known to flower as late as October. Our specimen from Boreas Pass (found in bloom on September 14) could well have been that variety.
NOTE: This shot of the plant's foliage provides a good example of a specific leaf type - margins entire (continuous, not toothed, notched, divided, or lobed).
Foliage -
Rabbit Ears Pass - Colorado - July 5, 2011
A distinctive characteristic of this species showing here, per Flora of North America: stems often tomentose (with a covering of short, matted or tangled, soft wooly hairs) distally (upwards or towards the top). -
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Rabbit Ears Pass - Colorado - July 5, 2011
Again using the botanic key from Flora of North America, showing here the phyllaries of crocea: Phyllaries in 2?3 series (loose), usually green, sometimes yellowish, oblong to spatulate (rounded blade gradually tapering to the base), margins (edges) pale. -
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Rabbit Ears Pass - Colorado - July 5, 2011
Macro of disc, the species produces 100+ disc florets (no we did not count them:). Tawny colored pappus, 6?12 mm (no we did not measure them:).
See the complete Flora of North America key here.
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Boreas Pass - Colorado - September 14, 2008
Foliage and stem macro showing the leathery, succulent, characteristic of the leaf surface, which is also glabrous (smooth, hairless). See the main foliage view for a good example of leaves with entire margins. Stems in this species can be either pale or reddish. The Boreas Pass instance had the reddish stems while the specimen found on Rabbit Ears Pass was pale stemmed. Both were tomentose (with a covering of short, matted or tangled, soft wooly hairs) distally (upwards or towards the top). -
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