Goat's-beard, Tragopogon dubius Scop., [TRODM, salsifis majeur, Western goat's- beard, Yellow goat's-beard, Tragopogon major Jacq.] Biennial, occasionally annual or short-lived perennial, reproducing only by seed. Stems 30 - 100cm (12 - 40 in.) high, smooth, round, somewhat fleshy, from a deeply penetrating, thick taproot; stemless, juvenile annual plants and first-year biennials without stems resemble shoots of grass; leaves alternate I per node), long. linear, very grass-like but smooth and fleshy rather than firm or harsh; younger leaves some-what downy-hairy; dry, brown, shriveled leaves from the previous year's rosette frequently persisting around the base of leafy-stemmed and flowering plants; flower heads large, 4 - 6cm (1¾ - 2¼ in.) across, showy, pale lemon-yellow, borne singly at ends of stems and branches (resembling Meadow goat's-beard); stalk at the base of the flower head very thick, hollow, tapering gradually downwards to normal stem thickness; involucral bracts usually 10 or more, green, 2.5 - 4 cm (1 -1¾ in.) long at flowering, elongating to about 7.5 cm (3 in.) or longer as the seeds mature; only ray (strap shaped) florets present. the outer ones opening first and the unopened inner florets somewhat resembling disk florets; flower heads opening and pointing towards the sun each morning, twisting slightly and following the sun until midday. and closing during the afternoon; mature seed head a white, fluffy sphere, 7 - 10 cm (3 - 4 in.) in diameter; each seed including its slender beak about 3cm (1¼ in. ) long and tipped with a white, umbrella-like circle of feathery bristles (pappus); whole plant, except the seed. with a white, milky juice. Flowers in June and July and occasionally continues until September.

Goat's-beard occurs throughout Ontario in pastures, meadows, roadsides and occasionally gardens.

Flowering plants are distinguished by their long, smooth, slender grass-like leaves, their lemon yellow flower heads surrounded by usually 10 or more, slender. tapering, green involucral bracts which are longer than the yellow florets, their thick, hollow, gradually tapering stalks below the flower heads, and their large, spherical seed heads. Non-flowering plants are distinguished by their erect, fleshy, smooth-textured, grass-like leaves with milky juice, the leaves usually long, gradually tapering, and not having crisped or wrinkled margins, and their long, tapering taproots.

(Source: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Publication 505, Ontario Weeds)