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    "Psilochenia" is from the Greek for "bare seed".
 		 Synonym: Psilochenia occidentalis.  Crepis occidentalis.
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Foothills. Openings, woodlands. Late spring.
Mesa Verde National Park, Prater Ridge Trail, June 5, 2004.

Psilochenia occidentalis often grows in dense, upright clusters, has deeply indented leaves somewhat similar to those of a Dandelion, and has bright golden/yellow flowers composed only of rays.  In dry locations or dry years it grows to about five inches tall; in more favorable conditions it can reach fifteen inches.

"Occidentalis" is Latin for "Western".

Nathaniel Wyeth collected the first specimens of this plant for his botanist friend, Thomas Nuttall, and Nuttall at first named the plant Crepis occidentalis in 1834.  Nuttall renamed the plant Psilochenia occidentalis in 1841. (More biographical information.)

Synonym: Psilochenia occidentalis.  Crepis occidentalis.
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Foothills. Openings, woodlands. Spring.
Mesa Verde National Park, Prater Ridge Trail, June 5, 2004.

Synonym: Psilochenia runcinata.  Crepis runcinata.
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Montane, sub-alpine. Wet meadows. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, June 27, 2005.

This slender Asteraceae would be lost in its normal habitat of grassy meadows except that its bright yellow flower grabs our attention.  Then we follow down the tall almost leafless stalk to the small Dandelion-like leaves.  Psilochenia runcinata grows to 15 inches tall and where you find one growing in a meadow, you will find many others scattered nearby.  

Edwin James collected the first specimen of this plant for science around 1820 and named it Hieracium runcinatum in 1823.  Torrey and Gray renamed it Crepis runcinata in 1843 and it has since undergone a number of name changes, including Psilochenia runcinata assigned by Love and Love in 1982 and accepted by Weber.

Synonym: Psilochenia runcinata.  Crepis runcinata.
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Montane, sub-alpine. Wet meadows. Summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, August 5, 2008.

A very fresh flower stands next to a flower that has been fertilized and has dropped its petals.  The white fluff is the pappus hairs that sit atop the seeds and carry them on the wind after the seed head fully matures.

Synonym: Psilochenia runcinata.  Crepis runcinata.
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Montane, sub-alpine. Wet meadows. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, June 27, 2005.