Pyrrocoma uniflora
Plantain goldenweed
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Pyrrocoma uniflora (Plantain goldenweed) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Plantain goldenweed is a California native perennial found in rocky alpine and subalpine habitats at elevations reaching mountain regions. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces yellow ray flowers approximately 7 to 11 millimeters long surrounding a dense central disk. Growing with slender stems 7 to 38 centimeters tall that are covered in woolly texture, it has a distinctive clustered appearance with 1 to 4 flower heads. Its basal leaves are 3 to 12 centimeters long, oblanceolate with sharply toothed edges, while stem leaves are smaller and clasping. The fruit is silky, 3 to 4 millimeters long with a tan pappus surrounding its angular surface.
Habitat and range
California counties: Mono, Inyo, Plumas, San Bernardino
How to tell it apart
vs Heterotheca: Pyrrocoma has 3-4 angled fruits and prominent basal rosette; Heterotheca has round fruits.; vs Solidago: Pyrrocoma grows from stout taproot with basal rosette in alpine areas; Solidago lacks prominent basal rosette.; vs Xanthisma: Pyrrocoma has 3-4 angled fruits from basal rosette; Xanthisma has round fruits and branched stems.; vs Tonestus: Pyrrocoma has variable hairiness (smooth to woolly); Tonestus is always sticky-glandular.; vs Petradoria: Pyrrocoma grows in alpine areas with angled fruits; Petradoria is desert-only with phyllaries in vertical ranks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pyrrocoma uniflora native to California?
Yes. Pyrrocoma uniflora is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Pyrrocoma uniflora grow?
Pyrrocoma uniflora occurs in Mono, Inyo, Plumas, San Bernardino.
What plant family does Pyrrocoma uniflora belong to?
Pyrrocoma uniflora is in the Asteraceae family, genus Pyrrocoma.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Pyrrocoma uniflora var. gossypina — Bear valley pyrrocoma
- Pyrrocoma uniflora var. uniflora — Plantain goldenweed
- Pyrrocoma apargioides — Alpine flames
- Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. cusickii — Large-flowered goldenweed
- Pyrrocoma hirta — Tacky goldenweed
- Pyrrocoma hirta var. hirta — Sticky pyrrocoma
- Rafinesquia californica — California chicory
- Rafinesquia neomexicana — Desert chicory
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.