About Agoseris apargioides (Less.) Greene
Agoseris apargioides (Less.) Greene is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is commonly known by the common names seaside agoseris and seaside false-dandelion. This plant is native to the Pacific coast of the United States, ranging from Washington south to central California, where it grows primarily on coastal dunes. It is a low-growing perennial herb that produces milky or orange sap. Individuals may be stemless, or have long rhizome-like stems that become buried by drifting sand. Its leaves grow in low rosettes at ground level. Leaf blades range from slender to broad, reaching up to 15 centimeters in length. Most leaves have 3 to 5 pairs of lobes along their margins, though these lobes are sometimes absent. The peduncle holding the inflorescence can grow as tall as 45 centimeters, but it is usually much shorter. The flower head is up to 2 centimeters wide, surrounded by phyllaries that range from hairless to hairy. The head holds only yellow ray florets, with no disc florets; the outer ray florets often have a purple strip on their lower surface. The fruit is an achene that measures between 5 and 12 millimeters long. The lower portion of the achene holds a single seed, while the upper portion forms a slender beak that bears a terminal white pappus.
