Goat’s-beard - Tragopogon pratensis

Irish name - Meigeall
Daisy family - Asteraceae (formally Compositae)

Characteristics

Goat’s-beard is often known by the alternative names of “Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon” and “Noon-flower”, because of the curious behaviour of its flowers. They will open in bright sun at daybreak and close around noon.

The first part of the scientific name Tragopogon is formed from two Greek words, which have the same meaning as the common English name, Goat’s-beard. Tragos means ‘goat’ and ‘pogon‘ means ‘beard’ and refers to the fluffy character of the seed head. The second part of the scientific name ‘pratensis‘ derives from Latin and means ‘of meadow or grassland’ and refers to its preferred habitat. Goat’s-beard is a biennial herb of meadows, pastures, field margins and roadsides.

Goat’s-beard has a fleshy taproot. In the first year the plant develops a low-growing rosette of linear-lanceolate (straight, spear-shaped) leaves whose base clasps the stem. The stems and leaves contain a white milky sap. In the second year the plant sends up one or more flowering stems. The dandelion-like flowers appear from May to July and each flower head consists of numerous yellow ‘ray florets’. The florets are replaced by oblong seeds with feathery white ‘parachutes’, which are finally carried away and distributed by the wind.

Propagation

From seed

Goat’s-beard spreads readily from seed. Sow the seed in spring in situ and water if the weather is dry.

Please remember...

Permission from the landowner - and, if the site holds any kind of designation, from Northern Ireland Environment Agency too - must be sought before collecting plant material (including seeds).