Goat's Beard (California Wildflowers)

Goat's Beard

Tragopogon dubius

Description ²

See if you can identify two differences between this flower and another daisy, Helianthella californica. Examine the green leaflike phyllaries underneath the flower head. In Goat's Beard, they extend well beyond the petals. In Helianthella, they are short and not visible from above. In the former the flower consists entirely of ray flowers, whereas in the latter there are both disk and ray flowers. Examine other members of the daisy family (Asteraceae) to familiarize yourself with these kinds of differences.

Distribution in California, USA, circa 2001 ²

Uncommon naturalized weed of vast places from the northern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley to the San Bernardino Mts. and Great Basin Province; 0-2700 m. Native to Europe.