Smooth mountain-dandelion and its several varieties are perennial herbs 

 and are common members of a large genus of weeds belonging to the chicory 

 tribe of the sunflower family (Compositae). They have a very wide distribu- 

 tion, appearing in all the 11 far-western States. 



The smooth mountain-dandelions are most common in open and weedy sites 

 in the ponderosa pine belt, although they are also common above and below this 

 area. They are very adaptable, growing under nearly all variations of soil and 

 moisture. Generally, they are most abundant on moderately dry flats and 

 meadows. Their long taproots and good reproductive powers enable them to 

 survive on disturbed, eroded, and drained meadows. Sagebrush and mules- 

 ears are frequently associated with the smooth mountain-dandelions on slopes 

 and dry flats, and wild-daisies, clovers, and the common dandelion in meadows. 



Usually the smooth mountain-dandelions are slightly to moderately grazed by 

 cattle and horses, but on overgrazed ranges and where stock concentrate the 

 use is often much greater. Sheep are very fond of them and often graze each 

 plant several times, especially under favorable growing conditions when the 

 leaves remain green throughout the summer. Although common on the ranges, 

 they are seldom abundant in any one place except locally where they have 

 largely replaced the original vegetation. Close and continuous utilization by 

 sheep may tend to kill them out, but on cattle ranges they may increase, especially 

 on meadows, to the point where they may become undesirable. 



The smooth mountain-dandelions have strong and often deep taproots. The 

 leaves are all basal, and vary in shape from linear and grasslike to divided and 

 dandelion-like, although most often they are narrowly lance-shaped and only 

 slightly toothed. The leaves are from 4 to 12 inches long, usually slender and 

 sparsely toothed and, as the common name, smooth, nnd specific name glauca 

 suggest, they are smooth and covered with a bluish-white, waxy bloom. The 

 stems are leafless and unbranched, bearing a large head of bright yellow, strap- 

 shaped flowers, which turn purple in age. There frequently are several very 

 short branches, or stems, of the root crown, each of which may produce one to 

 several separate flower stalks from 4 to 20 inches high. The bracts enclosing 

 the flower heads are in several rows and fit closely over one another like the 

 shingles of a roof. The many, fine, and white (never feathery), bristles 

 (pappus) are attached to the summit of the "seed" beak. 



MOUNTAIN-DANDELIONS (Ago'seris spp., syn. Tro'ximon spp.) 



The mountain-dandelions compose a large genus represented by over 30 

 species in the western States. The western species, except for one annual 

 (A. heteropliylla) , are similar to smooth mountain-dandelion in that they are 

 milky-juiced perennials with strong, deep taproots, often with short branched 

 root crowns. The leaves vary in size, but are arranged in a basal tuft and 

 sometimes are dandelionlike in form. These features, coupled with the close 

 botanical relationship to the dandelion (Leontodon taraxacum) and the charac- 

 teristic occurrence of these plants in mountainous areas, have given rise to 

 the common name, mountain-dandelion, for the genus. Differences within the 

 genus are not especially great, and a knowledge of smooth mountain-dandelion 

 will usually enable one to recognize the other members of the genus. Most of 

 the characters of mountain-dandelion species emphasized in the botanical keys 

 are of a sort not readily observable in the field, such as shape, length, and 

 surface covering of the bracts, or phyllaries, of the involucre, and length and 

 shape of the seed and its beak. 



Mountain-dandelions are sometimes confused with closely related genera, 

 notably the dandelion and with the smaller species of hawksbeard ('Crepis). 

 The dandelion has many similar characteristics, such as basal leaves and 

 slender, leafless flower stalks (scapes) terminating in a single flower head. 

 Distinguishing characteristics are found in the leaves, involucre, and "seed" 

 (achene). The dandelion tends to have more numerous, deep green leaves with 

 a characteristic "runcinate" lobing; the bracts of the involucre subtending the 

 flower head are not "shingled" but are in one main series with a short outer 

 and lower row of down-bent bracts ; the "seeds" are spinulose at the top. 

 Hawksbeards are usually more easily distinguished, as most of them have 

 branched and leafy stems that usually terminate in several flower heads. 

 Mountain-dandelions often have soft woolly hairs near the base of their flower 

 heads, never stiff glandular hairs as many hawksbeards do. 



