purple salsify

Tragopogon porrifolius

Member of salsifies (genus Tragopogon)
lettuce, chicory, dandelion, and salsify tribe (tribe Cichorieae)
sunflower family (family Asteraceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
purple in flowering plants

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• rays purple
• 5–11 phyllaries, ≥ flowers when fully bloomed
• pappus ± brown

Although Jepson and Calflora list this as the local purple species, Valerio Lazzeri argues that we actually have Tragopogon eriospermus. To distinguish the two, be sure to observe the leaf margins (undulate or not), phyllaries (reflexed or not), achenes when dried (strongly or slightly narrowed), and habitat (dry or not).

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Chris’s observations: 25 (20 are research grade)

Locations:

• Russian Ridge OSP: 6
• Santa Teresa CP: 3
• Coyote Hills RP: 2
• Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP: 2
• Long Ridge OSP: 2
• Wilder Ranch SP: 2
• Almaden Quicksilver CP
• Ed R. Levin CP
• Henry Coe SP
• Monte Bello OSP
• San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail
• Skyline Ridge OSP
• Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area
• Ulistac Natural Area, Santa Clara

Months:

• Apr.: 6
• May: 9
• Jun.: 4
• Jul.: 6

For more details, use advanced search.

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – CalPhotos – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora