Botanical Name: Agoseris aurantiaca
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Cichorioideae
Kingdom:Plantae
Order: Asterales
Tribe: Cichorieae
Genus: Agoseris
Species: A. aurantiaca
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
Common Names: Orange agoseris or Mountain dandelion
Habitat:Agoseris aurantiaca is native to Western N. America from Canada to California. It is primarily a species of mountainous regions and may be found in wet to dry habitats, usually grows on meadows and woods from moderate to high elevations.
Description:
Agoseris aurantiaca is a perennial plant growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Agoseris aurantiaca is a perennial herb producing a basal rosette of leaves. There is no stem, but it does produce several stem-like peduncles, each peduncle bearing a single flower head surrounded by glabrous to hairy phyllaries. The head is ligulate, containing several ray florets but no disc florets. The florets are most commonly orange but are occasionally yellow, pink, red, or purple. “Aurantiaca” means “orange-red”. The flower head matures into a ball-like head of beaked achenes, each with a terminal pappus of numerous, white bristles.
Varieties:
*Agoseris aurantiaca var. aurantiaca – most of species range
*Agoseris aurantiaca var. purpurea (A.Gray) Cronquist – southern Rocky Mountains
Cultivation:
Prefers full sun and a sandy loam low in nutrients.
Edible Uses:
Leaves – cooked as a spinach. The leaves can be used as greens, cooked or uncooked. The flowers can be used to make beverages such as Dandelion beer and wine.
Medicinal Uses:
A cold infusion of the plant is used as a lotion for treating wounds. The wet leaves were rubbed onto swollen arms, wrists or ankles.
There have been reports of effective medicinal uses such as an external pain-relieving liniment for sprains, fractures, and bruising. The leaves contain a number of nutrients including iron, zinc, boron, calcium, silicon, and are especially high in potassium. It is also high in vitamins A, B complex, C, and D. Although, it is reported that every part of the plant is safe, there are also contradictory reports that it is toxic if it enters the bloodstream; care should be taken when using any plant material for medicinal uses.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoseris_aurantiaca
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Agoseris+aurantiaca
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/agoseris_aurantiaca.shtml
