The golden-yellow heads of the False Dandelion look very like those of its namesake. They bloom in midsummer and are found on plants 1-3 ft. tall, in mountain meadows and along brook-banks at 8000-11000 ft. Goatsbeard, Salsify Tragopogon porrifolius Plate 37, fig. 5 The Goatsbeard or Salsify bears large purple flower-heads with yellow centers at the tips of stiff, straight stems, 2-4 ft. tall. The plants have escaped from cultivation and may be found blooming all summer, along roadsides and in meadows at 4000-7000 ft. The roots of the Salsify are edible and are marketed under the name of “Oyster Plant.” The name “Goatsbeard” refer to the clusters of stiff hairy fruits. [Illustration: Plate 37 ASTER FAMILY 1 Blazing Star: Laciniaria punctata 2 Blue Lettuce: Lactuca pulchella 3 Sheath Flower: Coleanthus grandiflorus 4 False Dandelion: Agoseris glauca 5 Goatsbeard, Salsify: Tragopogon porrifolius 6 Rose Thistle: Carduus undulatus 7 Hawksbeard: Crepis runcinata] Rose Thistle Carduus undulatus Plate 37, fig. 6 The Rose Thistle is so named on account of the bright rose-purple flower-heads, which bloom in summer and autumn. The plants are 2-5 ft. tall and grow on plains, prairies and foothills at 5000-7000 ft. The gray-green foliage is very spiny, but when bruised to destroy the spines forms good food for cattle. Donkeys eat the plants, spines and all, and seem to relish them. The Thistle is the badge of Scotland. Hawksbeard Crepis runcinata Plate 37, fig. 7 The Hawksbeard has dandelion-like flower-heads of a golden yellow, which bloom in midsummer. The plants grow 1-2 ft. tall in mountain meadows and bogs at 8000-11000 ft. Prairie Goldenrod Solidago missouriensis Plate 38, fig. 1 The flower clusters of the goldenrods vary from rather slender, stiff spikes, which give the name to the group, to large, spreading, feathery panicles. The Prairie Goldenrod belongs to the latter class and is only medium-sized, both as to flower-clusters and plants, which are 8 in.-2 ft. tall. It blooms from midsummer to autumn and is most at home on the prairies, though it also occurs in meadows and on gravel-slides at 3000-10000 ft. The Goldenrod is the state flower of Nebraska. The botanical name for the genus comes from the Greek “to make whole” which refers to the healing properties formerly attributed to the plant. [Illustration: Plate 38 ASTER FAMILY