Agoseris grandiflora

From Puget Prairie Plants
  • Scientific Name: Agoseris grandiflora
  • Family: Asteraceae
  • Common Names: large-flowered agoseris
  • Synonyms/Misapplications: Stylopappus grandiflorus
  • Codon: AGOGRA

Photo by Craig Althen, 2014. Also featured on Main Page

Taxonomy

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Viridiplantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Spermatophytina
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteranae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Agoseris (Nutt.) Greene
Species: Agoseris grandiflora (Nutt.) Greene
Synonyms
  • Stylopappus grandiflorus Nutt.[1]

[2]

Description

Scapose and stout perennial, 20-70 cm tall, with basal, oblanceolate to broadly linear pinnatifid leaves typically 10-40 cm. long and 1-3 cm. wide. The juice milky and hairy when young, becoming hairless with age. Large, yellow, multi-flowered head appearing almost as a single flower such as in the common dandelion. This head is about 1.5-4 cm. high, its outer bracts broad and short, the inner narrower and elongate; corollas all ligulate. Produces fruits with achene body 4-7 mm. long, tapering to a slender beak 2-4 times as long. [3] [4]Look-alikes: Microseris borealis, Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Raf. var. laciniata, Agoseris glauca, and Taraxacum officinale.

Bloom Period

May-August [3]

Distribution of bigflower agoseris

Distribution

British Columbia to California; Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Montana. [5]

Habitat

Meadows and other open places in the lowlands and at moderate elevations in the mountains, often in dry areas. [3]

Uses

Was this used for pinole?

Propagation

Seeds are collected by cutting the inflorescence after the pappus has expanded. Seed is wind disseminated and shatters soon after ripening. Seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned. For small amounts, the pappus can be removed by hand. With larger amounts, a hammermill is effective for removing the pappus. Seed is then cleaned with an air column separator or air screen equipment. Cleaned seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees F. and 40% relative humidity.[6]


Propagation Protocol from Native Plant Network

Seed

Agoseris grandiflora seeds, photo by Lisa Hintz

Seed sample from: 2010

Average Measurement: 5.2 x 0.7 x 0.7

Measurement Range: L: 4.6 - 6, W: 0.5 - 0.9, D: 0.5 - 0.9

Features

Shape: Seeds tapering to a beak 2-3 times as long as the body of the seed.

Color: Seeds pale brown with white, glossy hilum.

Additional Structures: Pappus white, and downy.

Surface: Seed body deeply longitudinally grooved. Ridges are finely toothed. Seed slightly glossy.

Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical Latitudinal AGGR.png

Longitudinal Cross Section: obovate Longitudinal AGGR.png


Basic Explanations and Assumptions:

The dimensions for the seeds are length x width x depth. The location of the hilum is used as the base of the seed, and the length is measured from hilum to the opposite apex. Where a style is present, the length is measured from the hilum to the bottom of the style. Width is measured at a right angle to the length at the widest part. Depth is measured at a right angle to the intersection of height and width lines.

Measurements included are the mean average for each measurement of ten separate seeds.

All measurements in millimeters unless otherwise noted.


Photo Gallery

References

  1. Washington Flora Checklist
  2. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=36491
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 WTU Plants Profiles
  4. eFlora, Flora of North America
  5. USDA Plants Profile for Agoseris grandiflora
  6. University of Washington. Retrieved from https://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Plants/Agoseris%20grandiflora.htm