Bill's Botanical Forays

 

The Common Spring-Gold (Crocidium multicaule Hook.) is a delicate spring blooming annual member of the Aster Family (Asteraceae). It ranges from British Columbia, through Washington and Oregon, to Northern California. (These pictures were taken at the Westbound Ryegrass Rest Area along Interstate 90.)

 

 

 

It grows in open grasslands in sandy soils and is often seen in dense populations covering large areas.

 

 

 

 

 

It is normally 2 to 8 inches high. Each flower head consists of usually eight ray flowers and numerous disk flowers.

 

 

 

 

The leaves are alternate and linear to oval in shape. The name Crocidium means tufts and refers to the tufts of hairs found leaf axils, and multicaule means multi-stemmed.