Goat's Beard (Tragopogon dubius)
Aliases: Yellow Salsify
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Goat's Beard is a European native and has never satisfactorily accounted for its presence in Yosemite. It's a long, slender plant up to three feet high that you can spot in Yosemite's lower elevation meadows - I've seen it in Yosemite Valley and along the northern edge of Wawona Meadow.
Blooms: May - July
Lifespan: Perennial
Origins: Invasive (see distribution maps for California and U.S./Canada)
Tragopogon dubius etymology: Tragopogon is a Greek term meaning "goat's beard," comprised of the roots tragos (goat) and pogon (beard). Dubius is a Latin word meaning uncertain, wavering, or dubious, possibly used here because there is little resemblance indeed between Tragopogon dubius and an actual goat's beard.
This Photo: Near the Yosemite Village day use parking lot, late June
Other Resources: CalFlora · CalPhotos · USDA · eFloras.org
