Agoseris aurantiaca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Agoseris aurantiaca
Agoseris aurantiaca var. aurantiaca
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Subfamily:	Cichorioideae
Tribe:	Cichorieae
Genus:	Agoseris
Species:	A. aurantiaca
Binomial name
Agoseris aurantiaca (Hook.) Greene
Synonyms
Synonymy Agoseris angustissima Greene Agoseris arachnoidea Rydb. Agoseris arizonica (Greene) Greene Agoseris attenuata Rydb. Agoseris carnea Rydb. Agoseris confinis Greene Agoseris frondifera Osterh. Agoseris gaspensis Fernald Agoseris gracilens (A.Gray) Kuntze Agoseris gracilens (A.Gray) Greene Agoseris gracilenta Greene Agoseris graminifolia Greene Agoseris greenei (A.Gray) Rydb. Agoseris howellii Greene Agoseris humilis Rydb. 1905 not (Benth.) Kuntze 1891 Agoseris lackschewitzii Douglass M.Hend. & R.K.Moseley Agoseris longirostris Greene Agoseris nana Rydb Agoseris naskapensis J.Rousseau & Raymond Agoseris prionophylla Greene Agoseris purpurea (A.Gray) Greene Agoseris roseata Rydb. Agoseris subalpina G.N.Jones Agoseris vulcanica Greene Microrhynchus aurantiacus Fisch. & C.A.Mey. Microrhynchus purpureus A.Gray Microrhynchus troximoides Torr. & A.Gray Stylopappus pumilus D.Dietr. Troximon arachnoideum (Rydb.) A.Nelson Troximon arizonicum Greene Troximon aurantiacum Hook. Troximon gracilens A.Gray Troximon purpureum (A.Gray) Greene

Agoseris aurantiaca is a type of plant in the sunflower family. It is often called orange agoseris or mountain dandelion because of its bright, often orange, flowers. This plant is found all over western North America, from Alaska and the Northwest Territories in Canada down to California, Arizona, and New Mexico. It also grows eastward into the Rocky Mountains and the Black Hills. You can even find small groups of them in the Chic-Choc Mountains and Otish Mountains in Quebec.

This plant mostly grows in mountains. It can live in both wet and dry places.

What it Looks Like

Agoseris aurantiaca is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It grows a group of leaves at its base, which looks like a rosette (a circular arrangement).

It doesn't have a main stem. Instead, it grows several stem-like stalks called peduncles. Each peduncle holds a single flower head. These flower heads are surrounded by special leaves called phyllaries. These phyllaries can be smooth or hairy.

Flower Colors

The flower head is made up of many small flowers called ray florets. Unlike some other sunflower family plants, it does not have disc florets in the center. The florets are usually orange. However, you might also see them in yellow, pink, red, or even purple! The name "Aurantiaca" actually means "orange-red," which describes its most common color.

Seeds

After the flower blooms, it turns into a round seed head. Each seed is called an achene. These achenes have a beak-like shape and a fluffy top called a pappus. The pappus is made of many white bristles, which help the seeds float away in the wind.

Varieties

There are two main types, or varieties, of Agoseris aurantiaca:

• Agoseris aurantiaca var. aurantiaca - This is the most common type and is found across most of the plant's range.
• Agoseris aurantiaca var. purpurea (A.Gray) Cronquist - This variety is mostly found in the southern Rocky Mountains.

Traditional Uses

The Ramah Navajo people have used this plant in traditional ways. They would make a cold infusion (a type of herbal tea) from the plant. This infusion was used for spiritual protection.