Agoseris glauca is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names false dandelion,[2] pale agoseris, prairie agoseris, and short-beaked agoseris. It is native to western North America.
| Agoseris glauca | |
|---|---|
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| Mount Rainier National Park | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Agoseris |
| Species: | A. glauca
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| Binomial name | |
| Agoseris glauca | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Synonymy
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Description
editAgoseris glauca is a perennial herb which varies in general appearance. Growing up to 70 centimeters (28 inches),[3] it produces a basal patch of leaves of various shapes which may be as long as the plant is high,[4] but are typically up to 35 cm (14 in).[3]
There is no stem, but from May to September[3] the plant flowers in a stemlike inflorescence which is sometimes erect, reaching heights near .5 metres (1+1⁄2 feet) or taller. The flower head is 1–3 cm (1⁄2–1+1⁄4 in) wide with layers of pointed phyllaries. The head is ligulate, bearing many yellow ray florets but no disc florets.[4] The rays may become pinkish with age.[2]
The fruit is an achene with a body up to a centimeter long and a pappus, which may be almost 2 cm in length.[4]
Similar species
editOther species in the genus known as false dandelion or mountain dandelion, as well as true dandelions, can be distinguished from A. glauca by differences in their fruit.[3]
Taxonomy
edit- Agoseris glauca var. dasycephala (Torr. & A. Gray) Jeps.
- Agoseris glauca var. glauca[5]
Distribution and habitat
editThe plant is native to western and northwestern North America from Alaska east to the Northwest Territories and Ontario, southeast to California, Arizona, and New Mexico.[6] It grows in many habitat types, usually those which are non-forested.[2]
Uses
editThe plant contains a bitter milky juice, which solidifies into a substance that can be chewed as gum; this may have been done by some Plains Indians.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b The Plant List search for Agoseris glauca
- ^ a b c d Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 160. ISBN 0-87842-280-3. OCLC 25708726.
- ^ a b c d Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. pp. 353–354. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
- ^ a b c d Flora of North America, Agoseris glauca
- ^ CalFlora Database: Agoseris glauca var. glauca
- ^ CalFlora taxon report, University of California: Agoseris glauca
External links
edit
Media related to Agoseris glauca at Wikimedia Commons- Jepson Manual Treatment — Agoseris glauca
- USDA Plants Profile for Agoseris glauca
- USGS NPWRC Profile
- Agoseris glauca — Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
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