Pyrrocoma Clementis, Tranquil Goldenweed

Pyrrocoma clementis is a high elevation species, often found at or above the timberline. Leaves grow at the base and along the stems, at alternate intervals; they are quite thick, usually hairless, and may be purplish along the midvein. Basal leaves are attached by stalks while stem leaves are sessile, with clasping bases, and shorter. Stems (one to five per plant) are also often purple, and rise approximately at a 45 degree angle.

Flowerheads are usually solitary; they have a bell-shaped involucre linked by relatively broad phyllaries, of different lengths, in several rows, colored green to purple. Phyllaries, and stems, have a covering of shaggy white hairs. Flowerheads contain over 100 disc florets ringed by 20 to 55 yellow ray florets.

Two varieties are var villosa, of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming, for which the phyllaries are narrowly lanceolate, and taper gradually at the apex, and the more widespread var clementis, which has broader, ovate phyllaries, narrowing abruptly to a small point.