XWavyleaf Dandelion (Nothocalais cuspidata)X
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False Dandelion -or- Prairie Dandelion -or- Wavyleaf Dandelion (Nothocalais cuspidata), Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower)
Nothocalais is a small genus with only four species. They are native to North America. In Illinois the plants are on the endangered list. From the website Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois: 'This is one of many species in the Chicory tribe of the Aster family that have dandelion-like flowerheads and foliage with a milky latex. The most familiar member of this group is the introduced Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion), which is a common lawn weed. The Prairie Dandelion can be distinguished from similar species by considering the following characteristics: 1) This is a perennial plant, rather than a biennial or annual, 2) stems with cauline leaves are never produced, 3) there is only one flowerhead per leafless stalk, 4) the flowerheads are at least 1" across, 5) the basal leaves are linear in shape and they lack teeth or lobes, and 6) the margins of the leaves are usually finely crisped and/or downy white.' End quote.
FunFacts: This lovely yellow flower is also purple, as it ages. Early pioneers ate the roots as a source of emergency food. A single plant may produce several flowerheads in succession.
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Plant location: Marshall Mesa Trail, a hike near Lyons Colorado, on May 15, 2009. The plant view shown here was a find on the same trail on April 20, 2011. According to the USDA Plant Database these are found in the following USA states: (AR, CO, IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NY, OK, SD, TX, WI, WY), and CANADA: (AB, MB, SK)Plant -
Bloom season: April and May.Foliage -
Bitterbrush Trail, Lyons Colorado, May 12, 2009
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Marshall Mesa Trail hike, Boulder County Open Space - June 2, 2009
A scant two weeks after finding Wavyleaf Dandelion in bloom we returned to find the plants going to seed. -
Bitterbrush Trail, Lyons Colorado, May 12, 2009
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Marshall Mesa Trail hike, Boulder County Open Space - June 2, 2009
A scant two weeks after finding Wavyleaf Dandelion in bloom we returned to find the plants going to seed. -
Bitterbrush Trail, a hike near Lyons Colorado, on May 12, 2009.
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Bitterbrush Trail, Lyons Colorado, May 12, 2009
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Marshall Mesa Trail hike, Boulder County Open Space - June 2, 2009
A scant two weeks after finding Wavyleaf Dandelion in bloom we returned to find the plants going to seed. -