About Tonestus lyallii (A.Gray) A.Nelson
Tonestus lyallii (A.Gray) A.Nelson is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. Its common names are Lyall's goldenweed, Lyall's serpentweed, and Lyall's tonestus. This plant is native to western North America, where it occurs most prominently in the Rocky Mountains and the mountain ranges of the Pacific Northwest, with scattered populations found between these two main regions. It is a perennial herb that grows in clumps or short bunches that reach no more than approximately 15 centimeters in height. Its stems branch from a tough, thickened caudex at the base of the plant. The leaves have smooth, untoothed edges, and are linear or lance-shaped. The largest leaves, which grow at the base of the plant, can reach up to around 8 centimeters long. The inflorescence holds either one flower head or a pair of heads; each head is roughly one centimeter wide, and has green or red phyllaries. Each flower head holds at least 10 or 11 bright yellow ray florets, surrounding a central area that contains many tubular disc florets.
