Photographs: Aughinish, Co. Limerick

Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis Finidí na muc Family: Asteraceae Flowering June-August. Annual or perennial. Native. The yellow dandelion-like flowers only open in the morning and are surrounded by narrow, pointed, sepal-like bracts, longer than the florets. Clock-like seedheads with rough achenes and feathered pappi. The narrow leaves are fleshy and sheathing and the flower stems are erect, usually unbranchedand slightly swollen below flower, 35-60cm. Found in tall grassland and on field edges, dry banks, paths and by roads. Widespread but most frequent in central, east and south-east Ireland

Goat's-beard, Tragopogon pratensis, Finidí na muc