Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Tragopogon dubius ssp. major, Tragopogon major
Other common names
Western goat's beard
salsify
salsifis majeur
meadow goat's-beard
goatsbeard
goat's beard
common salsify
yellow goat's beard
wild oysterplant
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Biennial or perennial
Similar species
Tragopogon pratensis
Height
1 to 3 feet
Riparian
No
Stems are erect and sparingly branched with terminal solitary flower head. The flower head bracts are narrow, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long and exceed the ray flowers. Large spherical flower head resembles a giant dandelion.
Bracts (phyllaries) usually 10 to 13, longer than the flower heads; flower heads of showy yellow ray flowers, solitary on stems that are visibly inflated at the top; leaves are elongate and narrow, mostly basal, alternate and sessile along the stem.
Habitat
Dry roadsides, fields, and disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
Bracts are longer than the ray flowers. Flowers heads open in the morning and close by noon. Each flower head is up to 2-1/2 inches wide and has only bisexual ray flowers.
Flower color
Lemon-yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are up to 12 inches long, mostly less than 1/4 inch wide, gradually tapered from bases to tips. Stems are erect, 1 to several, sparingly branched, unevenly white-woolly when young, smooth when mature; sap milky.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Achenes, slender, 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, tapering into stout beaks, brown, tipped with numerous, white to off-white, feather-like bristles, enclosing small seed.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
White