Agoseris parviflora
False dandelion
(c) mark-groeneveld, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Agoseris parviflora (False dandelion) is a native California perennial in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Great Basin habitat and backward-angled lobes distinctive.
False dandelion is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and eastern high Sierra Nevada in dry sagebrush scrub, open pine woodland, and meadows at elevations of 1,400 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces yellow flowers with ligules 10 to 20 millimeters long, exceeding the rosy-purple and green involucre. Growing 5 to 25 centimeters tall with erect to decumbent stems, it has a distinctive appearance with purplish petioles. Its leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long, lanceolate with 5 to 8 pairs of narrow lobes, appearing glaucous and glabrous or with white-opaque hairs. The fruit has a fusiform body 5 to 9 millimeters long with a slender beak 3 to 10 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 8 species; Great Basin habitat and backward-angled lobes distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally dry, open sagebrush scrub, open pine woodland, meadows
Elevation: generally 1400-2400(3400) m
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, South Dakota, New Mexico
Bloom period
Agoseris parviflora blooms Apr-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Taraxacum: Agoseris bracts graduate gradually in size; Taraxacum has dramatically smaller outer bracts and longer one-sided pappus.; vs Hypochaeris: Agoseris has completely bractless stems; Hypochaeris often has small leafy bracts partway up the stem.; vs Microseris: Agoseris pappus bristles evenly distributed; Microseris has 5-80 white scales (not plume-like bristles).; vs Uropappus: Agoseris has plume-like bristles; Uropappus has 5 large silvery scales alternating with 5 smaller ones.; vs Leontodon: Agoseris has unbranched scapes; Leontodon often has branched stems with multiple heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agoseris parviflora native to California?
Yes. Agoseris parviflora is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Agoseris parviflora bloom?
Agoseris parviflora blooms Apr-Aug.
What plant family does Agoseris parviflora belong to?
Agoseris parviflora is in the Asteraceae family, genus Agoseris.
What habitat does Agoseris parviflora grow in?
Agoseris parviflora grows in Generally dry, open sagebrush scrub, open pine woodland, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Agoseris retrorsa — Spear leaved agoseris
- Agoseris sp.
- Agoseris apargioides — Coast dandelion
- Agoseris apargioides var. apargioides — Coast dandelion
- Agoseris apargioides var. eastwoodiae — Beach dandelion
- Agoseris apargioides var. maritima — Woolly goat chicory
- Aldama purisimae — La purisima aldama
- Aldama sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.