Meadow Goatsbeard, Yellow Salsify, Tragopogon dubius Scop. Wildflowers of Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

(Yellow Salsify, Western Goatsbeard) 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. The plant is an erect biennial reaching to 3 feet in height. The flower head forms singly on a long stalk. It is about 1 1/2" wide and composed of pale yellow ray flowers, the outer ones much longer than the inner, and with small teeth at the tip. Anthers are black. The bracts, which number up to 13, are longer that the rays. The leaves are alternate, clasping and grass-like with straight pointed tips. Like T. pratensis, the Yellow Goatsbeard, the flower opens early and is frequently closed by early afternoon. This plant differs from T. pratensis where the leaves are backward curving and the flower bracts, while visible beyond the rays, are much shorter. "Goatsbeard" refers to the fuzzy 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. Frequently seen on roadsides and other untended patches of ground.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Meadow Goatsbeard	Tragopogon dubius Scop.	Aster (Asteraceae)	Upland	Late Spring to mid-summer
Other names and notes	(Yellow Salsify, Western Goatsbeard) 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. The plant is an erect biennial reaching to 3 feet in height. The flower head forms singly on a long stalk. It is about 1 1/2" wide and composed of pale yellow ray flowers, the outer ones much longer than the inner, and with small teeth at the tip. Anthers are black. The bracts, which number up to 13, are longer that the rays. The leaves are alternate, clasping and grass-like with straight pointed tips. Like T. pratensis, the Yellow Goatsbeard, the flower opens early and is frequently closed by early afternoon. This plant differs from T. pratensis where the leaves are backward curving and the flower bracts, while visible beyond the rays, are much shorter. "Goatsbeard" refers to the fuzzy 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. Frequently seen on roadsides and other untended patches of ground.