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.
Description
Agoseris 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
Other 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]
The 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]