western salsify
Family
AsteraceaeScientific Name
Tragopogon dubius
Other Common Names:
yellow salsify
goat's-beard
yellow goat's-beard
Synonyms (former Scientific Names):
Tragopogon dubius ssp. major
Tragopogon major
Habit
Reproducing only by seed, seedlings have hairless arched grass-like cotyledons. The hairless 1 m stems arise from a deep fleshy taproot and all parts contain a milky white juice.
Leaves
Stalkless grass-like leaves are 5-30 cm long and clasp the stem. The fleshy, bluish green leaves are hairless.
Identifying Characteristics
7-10 cm diameter globe-like fruiting head, grass-like leaves and milky juice distinguish this plant.
Flower Seed Head
Single flower heads follow the sun through the morning, closing mid-afternoon and on cloudy days. Yellow ray florets surrounded by a single row of 10-14 floral bracts longer than the ray florets make up the flower heads.
Seed Fruit
Each flower head produces a globe shaped fruiting head measuring 7-10 cm across. Each floret yields a single-seeded achene 25-35 mm long with a pappus of feathery webbed hairs. Dull brown and spindle shaped, the seeds are 2.3-3 cm long.. Each specimen may produce as many as 500 seeds.
Where Found
Throughout Canada and the United States, goat's-beard is often a concern in fall seed crops due to the basal rosette of leaves produced by its biennial phase of life. Goat's-beard also frequents roadsides and waste areas.
Growth Habit
upright and nonwoody
Thorns or Spines
not present
Approximate Flower Diameter
Varies:
quarter,
half dollar,
larger
Dominant Flower Color
Varies:
white,
yellow
Flower Symmetry
radial symmetery
Leaf Hairs
no hairs
Leaf Shape
Varies:
needle,
lance
Leaf Arrangement
alternate
Leaf Margin
entire
Leaf Structure
simple
Leaf Stalk
Varies:
none,
shorter than leaf
Stem Hairs
no hairs
Stem Cross Section
round or oval
Milky Sap
present
Root Structure
Varies:
fibrous,
taproot
Life Cycle
biennial
Ochrea
not present
Plant Type
Herb