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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Pyrrhopappus carolinianus (Carolina desert-chicory)
Moore, James H.

Pyrrhopappus carolinianus

Pyrrhopappus carolinianus (Walter) DC.

Carolina Desert-chicory, Texas Dandelion, False Dandelion

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Pyrrhopappus carolinianus var. georgianus, Pyrrhopappus georgianus, Sitilias caroliniana

USDA Symbol: PYCA2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

The Texas dandelion is common throughout the eastern half of the state. It grows in pastures and along roadsides, but seems to do best on lawns. It often has several erect stems, 6-20+ inches long, which exude a milky substance when broken. Large, deeply lobed leaves, 2-6 inches long, grow from the base of the plant on petioles half as long as the leaves themselves. The few upper leaves are alternate, much smaller, with little indentation. The flower heads are 1-1 1/2 inches across, 1 flower head to a stem. Both ray and disc flowers are yellow.

 

From the Image Gallery

12 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NE , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
Texas Master Naturalists - Lost Pines Chapter - Bastrop, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pyrrhopappus carolinianus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pyrrhopappus carolinianus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pyrrhopappus carolinianus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-13
Research By: TWC Staff

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