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Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Common
Name

Scientific
Name

Plant
Family

Garden
Location

Prime
Season
Yellow Goatsbeard

Tragopogon pratensis L.

[former Tragopogon lamottei Rouy]
Aster (Asteraceae)
Upland
Late Spring to Late Summer
Other names and notes
(Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon) Plants of the genus Tragopogon are commonly called "Goatsbeards" while the different species have attached various common names. Goatsbeards are a close relation to the Hawkweeds. This species' alternate common name refers to the flower closing by noon each day except when it is cloudy. "Goatsbeard" refers to the fuzzy seed head. The plant is biennial, forming a rosette the first year and then the leafy stem the second year. The flower heads are up to 2 1/2" wide, the yellow rays with fringed tips (comprised of 5 small teeth). The outer rays are much longer than the inner rays. The anthers are black. Behind the rays are about 8 narrow leaf-like bracts that extend just beyond the tips of the outer yellow rays. The stems are erect, contain a milky juice, and are usually up to 24" high or enough to raise the flower above surrounding vegetation. The few upper leaves are grass like and clasp the stem, which is erect and can slightly branch. Upper leaves are short, lower leaves can be 8 to 9" long, all bluish-green in color and are backward curving. The closed flower will change quickly to a fluffy seed head. The feathery down on each seed is on a long stalk and interlaced forming a tall narrow cup-like structure. This structure is easily taken up by the wind resulting in the plant self-seeding. Frequently seen on roadsides and other untended patches of ground.
Goatsbeard
Goatsbeard
 
Goatsbeard plant
Above: The erect plant, this one showing one branching flower head. Below: Note the bracts behind the outer rays which have 5 small teeth at the tips.
Above: The seed head. Note the cup shaped structure of each seed. Below: The larger lower leaf of the plant which flexes backward and forms a sheath around the stem.
Goatsbeard
Goatsbeard Leaf
Below: The sequence of flower development. Center - note the long bracts whose tips will be visible behind the outer yellow rays.
Goatsbeard bud Goatsbeard sepals Goatsbeard flower
Below left: Full flower development. Note the shorter inner rays. Right: Seeds formed in a flower head about to open to release seed.
Goatsbeard flower Goatsbeard Seeds forming
 
"The goat's beard, which each morn abroad doth peep
But shuts its flowers at noon and goes to sleep."
Cowley
  

Notes: This plant is indigenous to the Garden area and was listed on Eloise Butler's list of indigenous plants. It was listed on Martha Crone's 1951 inventory of plants in the Garden at that time. It is present in 22 counties of Minnesota but is not native to the state, or to the United States or Canada. It is a European import, quite common in the British Isles. There is notation in old works about medicinal qualities of the plant but such use was not reported in post-mediaeval times. A similar plant is Meadow Goatsbeard (Tragopogon dubius).

Older Lore: Gerard (Ref.#6a) writes: "It shutteth itselfe at twelve of the clocke, and sheweth not his face open until the next daies Sunne do make it flower anew. Where-upon it was called go-to-bed-at-noone; when these flowers be come to their full maturitie and ripenesse it groweth into a downie blowe-ball like those of Dandelion, that is carried awaie with the winde. The seede is long, having at the ende one peece of that downie matter hanging at it."

  
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References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.  
©2008-2012 Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, Inc. All photos are the property of The Friends of the Wild Flower Garden unless otherwise credited. "www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org" 052212