# Pale agoseris (*Agoseris glauca*)

The Pale Agoseris is a beautiful wildflower that blooms in bright yellow. It grows tall and has thin leaves, making it look like a little sun shining in the grass.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Pale agoseris](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Agoseris_glauca_8503.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agoseris_glauca_8503.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pale agoseris has bright, pale yellow, dandelion-like flowers atop leafless stalks. Its long, narrow leaves are often bluish-green and found mostly at the base of the plant. It stands out with its singular flower heads and milky sap.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Agoseris

## Interesting facts

- Each seed has a feathery parachute to fly far on the wind!
- Indigenous people ate its milky roots and tender young leaves.
- It's a cousin to the common dandelion, but usually paler in color.
- Its scientific name 'glauca' means 'bluish-gray', describing its leaves!

## Special abilities

- **Thirsty Root:** Pale agoseris has a deep taproot that helps it find water and survive in dry, arid environments.
- **Mountain Climber:** This plant can grow high up in mountains, thriving in rocky soils where other plants struggle to take root.
- **Milky Shield:** Pale agoseris contains a milky sap that helps defend it from hungry herbivores looking for a snack.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar
- **Pollinates:** [Bumblebee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumblebee) (*Bombus terrestris*) — Collects pollen and nectar
- **Eats:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on leaves and stems
- **Eats:** [Yellow-bellied marmot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-bellied-marmot) (*Marmota flaviventris*) — Forages on plant parts

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wildflowers, as they can be delicate.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pale agoseris?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Pale agoseris?

10-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Pale agoseris?

2-5 cm

### When does Pale agoseris bloom?

Late spring to summer

### Is Pale agoseris edible?

Yes

### Is Pale agoseris toxic?

None

### What is Pale agoseris's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Pale agoseris pollinated?

Insect

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Pale agoseris: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pale-agoseris)