Taraxacum ceratophorum

(Horned Dandelion)

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Taraxacum ceratophorum, Loveland Pass, Clear Creek Co. 7062/7074

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Taraxacum ceratophorum, Loveland Pass, Clear Creek Co. 7046

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Taraxacum ceratophorum, Loveland Pass, Clear Creek Co. 7030

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Taraxacum ceratophorum, Loveland Pass, Clear Creek Co. 7026

Scientific Name Taraxacum ceratophorum (Taraxacum officinale ssp. ceratophorum) USDA PLANTS Symbol TAOFC
Common Name Horned Dandelion, Northern Dandelion ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 36200
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (8700 to 13000 ft.); lawns, disturbed areas. roadsides, meadows.
Plant: Erect perennial 2 to 20 inches tall; single to several stems, purplish, hollow, densely hairy when young.
Leaves: Usually spreading basal leaves (~10) narrowly oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate or linear-oblong in outline, with a variety of shapes, including runcinate, lobed more than halfway to the midrib, irregulary lacerate, often toothed, etc; sessile or petiolate (may be winged); 1-1/2 to 12 inches long.
Inflorescence: Solitary composite flower heads about 1-1/2 inches across, 40 to 85+ bright yellow ray flowers; phyllaries glaborous (hairless) in two rows; tips of phyllaries have small "horns".
Bloom Period: June to August.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, SW Colorado Wildflowers and Flora of North America.
BONAP Distribution Map


Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains