i6o 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
GOAT’S-BEARD. (TRAGOPOGON, LINN.) — Flower-heads large, solitary. Florets all strap 
shaped (ligulate), yellow, purple, or lilac. Flower-bracts 8-16 in i row, equal, long, narrow, united 
at the base. Calyx-tube surmounted with feathery hairs ; petals 5, united into a tube at the base 
and spreading into a 5-toothed, strap-shaped limb (ligulate) ; stamens 5, with the anthers united ; 
carpels 2, united ; fruit an achene, lengthened into a beak and crowned with the feathery calyx-hairs 
(pappus). Herbs with narrow, grass-like, alternate leaves, and a milky juice. 
Goat’s-beard, Jaek-go-to-bed-at-noon. (Tragopogon pratense, Linn.)— As just 
described. The flower-heads large and solitary, closing at noon ; the florets varying in length, yellow ; 
the flower-bracts sometimes about equal in length to the florets, sometimes shorter ; and the head 
of achenes about 3 inches across. Stem 1-2 feet high, branched, thickened upwards, with the juice 
milky ; the leaves narrow, grass-like, alternate, entire, clasping the stem (amplexicaul). \Plate 74. 
Common. Waste places and meadows. June — July. Biennial. 
*Salsify. (Tragopogon porrifolium, Linn.) — Not a native. Very like the last, but 
having purple florets. 
Rare. Naturalised in moist meadows in the south of England. May — June. Perennial. 
HAWK-BIT. (LEONTODON, LINN.) — Flower-heads large, on leafless stalks from the root 
(scapes). Florets all strap-shaped (ligulate), yellow, the outer ones often green or reddish on the 
back. Flower-bracts numerous, in 2 or 3 rows, the outer shorter. Calyx-tube surmounted with 
feathery hairs or scales ; petals 5, united into a tube at the base and spreading into a 5-toothed, 
strap-shaped limb (ligulate) ; stamens 5, with the anthers united ; carpels 2, united ; fruit an 
achene, sometimes beaked, crowned with the feathery hairs (pappus) or the scales of the calyx. 
Herbs with a milky juice, and all the leaves from the root (radical) in a rosette. 
Hairy Hawk-bit or Thrincia. (Leontodon hirtus, Linn.)— As just described. The 
flower-heads solitary, f inch across, drooping in bud, on leafless stalks 2-12 inches high (scapes), 
which thicken beneath the flower-head and are slightly hairy ; the florets yellow ; the flower-bracts 
not hairy (glabrous) ; and the leaves all from the root (radical) in a rosette, narrowly oblong 
and toothed (dentate). 
Common. Moors, dry places. July — August. Perennial. 
Rough Hawk-bit. (Leontodon hispidus, Linn.)— A very similar plant, though taller, 
with larger flower-heads, inches across, of a deep yellow; flower-bracts and stalks hairy to 
woolly ; and leaves deeply lobed, with the lobes pointing towards the base (runcinate). [ Plate 75. 
Common. Pastures, heaths, and waste places, especially on chalky or sandy soil. June — 
September. Perennial. 
Autumnal Hawk-bit. (Leontodon autumnalis, Linn.)— Again a similar plant to the 
Hairy Hawk-bit, but taller, the flower-heads erect in bud, deep yellow, and not solitary; the 
flower-bracts without hairs (glabrous); the flower-stems branched, 6-18 inches high, with many 
bracts ; and the leaves narrowly oblong, either deeply lobed (pinnatifid) or only toothed (dentate). 
Very common. Fields and waste places. August — September. Perennial. 
DANDELION. (TARAXACUM, HALL.) — Flower-heads large, solitary on leafless stalks from 
the root (scapes). Florets all strap-shaped (ligulate), deep yellow, the outer often streaked with 
olive-green or red on the back. Flower-bracts smooth (glabrous), in 2 rows, the inner erect and 
equal, the outer often turned back. Calyx-tube surmounted with simple hairs ; petals 5, united 
into a tube at the base and spreading into a 5-toothed, strap-shaped limb (ligulate) ; stamens 5, 
with the anthers united ; carpels 2 ; fruit an achene, beaked, and crowned with the simple white 
