Tragopogon pratensis
Sp. Pl. 2: 789. 1753.
Plants (15–)40–100 cm. Leaves: apices usually recurved to coiled, faces initially tomentulose to floccose, soon glabrescent. Peduncles usually little, if at all, inflated (at flowering, may be inflated in fruit), initially floccose to tomentulose, soon glabrescent. Involucres urceolate in bud. Outer florets equaling or surpassing phyllaries; corollas yellow. 2n = 12.
Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Disturbed sites
Elevation: 10–2100 m
Distribution
Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Ariz., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.Dak., Tenn., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo., Europe.
Discussion
Tragopogon pratensis is naturalized across much of North America. The circumscription and infraspecific taxonomy of T. pratensis in Europe are debated, and the name T. pratensis may prove to be inaccurately assigned to the introduced populations in North America.
Selected References
None.