Goatsbeard
Family: Composite/Aster
Genus: Tragopogon
Introduced
Biennial (looks like blades of grass in first year)
Blooms: June to September
Height: up to 1 m
Flower head: 3-6 cm consisting of ray flowers
Opens in the morning facing the sun, and follows the sun until about noon, when it closes.
The name "goatsbeard" pertains to the large fuzzy seed-head. Seeds dispersed by wind.
Goastbeard, yellow
T. dubius
Habitat: Field and waste places
Rays pale (lemon) yellowy
Phyllaries (sepal-like green bracts below flower head) are longer than rays.
Stem is swollen just below the head.
Goatsbeard, meadow
R. pratensis
Habitat: Moist disturbed places
Brighter yellow than the above.
Phyllaries not longer than rays, and stem not swollen beneath flower head.