Tragopogon dubius

Tragopogan dubius Scop. by Steven Martin, Native Plants Class 2003 Common names: Yellow salsify, Western goat's beard Family: Asteraceae Synonymy: Tragopogon dubius Scop. ssp. major (Jacq.) Voll., Tragopogon major Jacq. Etymology: Greek origin of name; “tragos” meaning goat and “pogon” meaning beard (5). Dubius means doubtful in Latin but not sure if that applies (6). Identification Growth form: Erect forb/herb, 30-100cm in height. Roots: Taprooted. Stem: Erect, branched or simple, milky sap. Leaves: Alternate, linear, elongate, entire, clasping, tapered in extended triangular shape, 5-25cm long. Inflorescence/flowers: Blooms may to july, yellow rays, 2.5-4cm long, 8-13 bracts, Fruit: Whitish, slender achenes, 25-36mm long, narrow beak shape. Similar species: T. mirus, (T. miscelluls) curved leaf tips and glabrus leaves, (T. porrifolius) has purple corollas, (T. pratensis) phyllaries shorter than or equal to corollas (5). Ecology Life history: Annual, biennial Native/introduced: Introduced possibly as seed contaminant from Asia and Europe (1). Photosynthetic pathway: C3 Phenology: Growing season depends on location, flowers May-September. Distribution: Found in open and disturbed areas, across continental United States and Alaska except for Southeastern US. Uses Provides little forage for livestock (2). Roots fried, baked or boiled prior to flowering, leaves used in salads, root crowns eaten like artichokes, stalks like asparagus. Diurectic tea from plant, and chewing gum from sap (5). References 1. ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). www.ars-grin.gov/ 2. Wisconsin State Herbarium. www.botany.wisc.edu 3. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, L.C. Higgins. 1993. A Utah Flora. Brigham Young University. Provo, Utah. 368-369. 4. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Plants Profile. http://plants.usda.gov/ 5. Springer, J. 2003. Plants of Northern Arizona Forests. Ecological Restoration Institute. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona.168. 6. Borror, J.D. 1988. Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company; Mountain View, California. p. 33.