Goat's beard

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Goat's beard pappus

Goat's beard

Goat's beard

Goat's beard bracts

Goat's beard achenes

Goat's beard leaves

Goat's beard

Goat's beard

Goat's beard

Goat's beard leaves

Goat's beard

Goat's beard inflorescence

Goat's beard head in fruit

Goat's beard

Morphology

Stem

Erect, 1 to several, sparingly branched, unevenly white-woolly when young, glabrous when mature; sap milky.

Leaves

Alternate, simple, sessile, clasping, narrowly linear, almost grass-like, to 12 inches long, mostly less than 1/4 inch wide, gradually tapered from bases to tips; margins entire.

Inflorescence

Heads, solitary, to 2 inches wide, terminal, on long, hollow stalks expanded just below heads; bracts usually 13, linear-lanceolate, 1 to 1.5 inch long, exceeding ray florets, bending downward at maturity.

Flower

Florets numerous, ray-like, around 1 inch long, pale yellow.

Fruit

Achenes, slender, 1 to 1.5 inch long, tapering into stout beaks, brown, tipped with numerous, white to off-white, feather-like bristles, enclosing small seed.

Ecology

Habitat

Disturbed sites, roadsides, edges of grain fields, and waste areas.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Practical Information

Forage Value

Livestock graze goat's beard when it is immature.

Uses

The edible roots are said to have the flavor of parsnip or oysters, and the milky latex was chewed as gum.

Additional Notes