4 June 2016

Meadow salsify

Tragopogon pratensis, also known as meadow salsify and meadow goat’s beard, can be mistaken for a dandelion from afar, but up close it’s a different yellow flower, notable for its spiky blossom, sturdy stem, and long, large, root that’s not easy to pull from my lawn. It blooms in the morning, then hides from the salsify puller in the afternoon. This handsome specimen adorned my backyard at 0930 this morning.