[The False Dandelions of the Columbia River Gorge]
Annual Agoseris, False Dandelion

Agoseris heterophylla var. heterophylla

The photo above shows a close-up of the ray flowers of annual agoseris as seen on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Adams...............May 29, 2005.
Characteristics:

Annual Agoseris is a dandelion-like plant with all the leaves basal and narrowly lance-shaped, occasionally shaped like those of a dandelion. It is an annual with one to several slender, hairy stems from 3-40 cm high. Individual leaves are oblanceolate and are toothed, pinnatifid or entire. The length of the leaves is up to 15 cm and width to 15 mm. The stems are leafless, with a single dandelion-like flower head at the top.

The flowers are yellow in color, turning pinkish upon drying. The involucre ranges from 5-13 mm high while in flower. It may lengthen up to 2 cm when in fruit..

Habitat:

Agoseris heterophylla is found in open areas in the lowlands and foothills.

Range:

Agoseris heterophylla is found from British Columbia southeast to Idaho, Utah and Arizona, and south through Oregon and Washington and Nevada to California.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it is found between the Wind and Deschutes Rivers, between the elevations of 200'-3800'.

The photo above shows a close-up of the involucre of annual agoseris as seen at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge.............May 14, 2006.

The photo above shows annual agoseris in its habitat as seen at a small, moist, rocky meadow along Rd K6000 at about 2800' at the southeast corner of Mt. Adams...................May 29, 2005.
Paul Slichter