Goat's-beard, Tragopogon dubius
Weed Control Options 
Life Cycle
Biennial.Propagation
Reproducing only by seed.Stems
Stems (Fig 5) 30-100cm high, smooth, round, somewhat fleshy, from a deeply penetrating, thick taproot; stemless, juvenile annual plants and first-year biennials without stems resemble shoots of grass.Leaves
Leaves (Fig 5, 6) - alternate (1 per node), long, linear, very grass-like but smooth and fleshy rather than firm or harsh; younger leaves somewhat downy-hairy; dry, brown, shriveled leaves (Fig 1:a) from the previous year's rosette frequently persisting around the base of leafy-stemmed and flowering plants.Flowers and Fruit
Flower (Fig 2,3) heads large, 4-6cm across, showy, pale lemon-yellow, borne singly at ends of stems and branches (resembling Meadow goat's-beard); stalk (Fig 1:b) at the base (Fig 1:c) of the flower head very thick, hollow, tapering gradually downwards to normal stem thickness (Fig 1:d); involucral bracts (Fig 1:e) usually 10 or more, green, 2.5-4cm long at flowering, elongating to about 7.5cm or longer as the seeds mature (Fig 4); only ray (strap-shaped) florets (Fig 1:f) present, the outer ones opening first and the unopened inner florets somewhat resembling disk florets; flower heads opening and pointing towards the sun each morning, twisting slightly and following the sun until midday, and closing during the afternoon; mature seed head (Fig 1:D)a white, fluffy sphere, 7-10cm in diameter; each seed including its slender beak about 3cm long and tipped with a white, umbrella-like circle of feathery bristles (pappus); whole plant, except the seed, with a white, milky juice. Flowers in June and July and occasionally continues until September.Roots and Underground Structures
Long, tapering taproot (Fig 7).Habitat
Goat's-beard occurs throughout Ontario in pastures, meadows, roadsides and occasionally gardens.Distinguishing Features
Flowering plants are distinguished by their long, smooth, slender grass-like leaves, their lemon yellow flower heads surrounded by usually 10 or more, slender, tapering, green involucral bracts (Fig 1:e) which are longer than the yellow florets (Fig 1:f),their thick, hollow, gradually tapering stalks (Fig 1:b) below the flower heads, and their large, spherical seed heads. Non-flowering plants are distinguished by their erect, fleshy. smooth-textured, grass-like leaves with milky juice, the leaves usually long, gradually tapering, and not having crisped or wrinkled margins, and their long, tapering taproots (Fig 7).Toxicity
In Ontario, goat's beard is considered to be a noxious weed.Often Mistaken For
Meadow Goat's-beard: However the involucral bracts of Meadow goat's beard are as long as or shorter than the florets. With Goat's beard the involucral bracts are much longer than the florets (Fig 3).Edibility
Plants tend to be bitter, fibrous and strong. Purple salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius), which is in the same genus as goat's-beard, has been used as a vegetable with a root that is described as having the taste of oysters.Tilford, G. (199) Edible and Medicinal plants of the West. Mountain Press Publishing Company. Montana, USA.
Zidorn, C., Lohwassen, U., Pschorr, S., Salvenmoser, D., Ongania, K-H., Ellmerer, E., Borner, A., Stuppner, H. (2005). Bibenzyls and dihydroisocoumarins from white salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius subsp. porrifolius). Phytochemistry, 66(14):1691-1697.
Media Items
Figure 1: Goat's-beard. A. Plant before flowering. B. Flower head about to open. C. Flower head in full bloom. D. Mature "seed" head. E. 1 "seed". Top
Figure 2: Opening yellow flower head of goat's-beard. Top
Figure 3: Flower head of goat's-beard, early June morning in Central Ontario. Top
Figure 4: Mature 'seed' head. Top
Figure 5: Grass-like leaf of goat's-beard. Top
Figure 6: Stem and leaves of goat's-beard. Top
Figure 7: Taproot of goat's-beard. Top