False Agoseris, Weevil Microseris: Nothocalais troximoides (Synonyms: Microseris alpestris, Microseris troximoides, Scorzonella troximoides)

[The Genus Nothocalais East of the Cascade Mts.]

False Agoseris, Weevil Microseris

Nothocalais troximoides

Synonyms: Microseris alpestris, Microseris troximoides, Scorzonella troximoides

False Agoseris : Nothocalais troximoides (Synonyms: Microseris alpestris, Microseris troximoides, Scorzonella troximoides)

False agoseris atop the Horse Heaven Hills, west of Richland, WA.........4/19/98.

Photo at right of false agoseris atop the Horse Heaven Hills, west of Richland, WA.........4/19/98.

Characteristics:

False agoseris is a perennial to 30 cm in height. The numerous leaves are basal, narrow (to 1 cm wide) and up to 40 cm long. The margins are often crisped or wavy, and often with a thin white striping along the edge.

The flower heads are solitary and dandelion-like. The bracts are a little less than equal in size, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate in shape, the upper end tapering gradually to a point. The bracts typically have a dark midrib, and may have lighter striping on both sides of this midrib. The fruiting head is dandelion-like.

Habitat:

False agoseris is found in dry open places in the lowlands and into the foothills.

Range:

False agoseris may be found east of the Cascades from southern British Columbia south through central Washington and Oregon to northern California, and eastward to western Montana and northern Utah.

Flower head of False Agoseris : Nothocalais troximoides (Synonyms: Microseris alpestris, Microseris troximoides, Scorzonella troximoides)

The photo above shows a close-up view from above of the flower head of false agoseris as seen from Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge...............April 9, 2006. This species is similar to the common dandelion in having only ray flowers present.

Involucral bracts of False Agoseris : Nothocalais troximoides (Synonyms: Microseris alpestris, Microseris troximoides, Scorzonella troximoides)

The photo above shows a close-up of the involucral bracts and undersides of the ray flowers of false agoseris as seen from Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge................April 9, 2006. Note the tangled white hairs on the outside of the involucral bracts and lower, outer surfaces of the rays. Note also the dark line running the length of the mid-section of the bracts and the burnt orange stripe running the length of the underside of each ray.

False agoseris as seen atop Baldy Mountain, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness...............July 2, 2010.

Paul Slichter