salsifies

genus Tragopogon

Member of lettuce, chicory, dandelion, and salsify tribe (tribe Cichorieae)
sunflower family (family Asteraceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

purple salsify
Tragopogon porrifolius

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).

yellow salsify
Tragopogon dubius

rays pale lemon-yellow
8–13 phyllaries, much exceeding flowers when fully bloomed [but not exceeding the seed ball]
pappus ± white

2 observed taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 27 (21 are research grade)

Locations:

Russian Ridge OSP: 6
Henry Coe SP: 3
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
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.: 6
Jul.: 6

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora