Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Eureka Gulch, July 18, 2009.

This minute plant grows to just a few inches tall on alpine tundra.  The plant is found thorough-out the West and across all of Canada; in some of these habitats it may reach 20 inches tall.  Leaf shape is highly variable, ranging from nearly entire (as shown here), to lobed, toothed, deeply incised, etc. 

The plant was named by Per Axel Rydberg.

Taraxacum eriophorum.  Synonym:Taraxacum ceratophorum.  (Alpine Dandelion)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Eureka Gulch, July 18, 2009.

The flower stem on this species is cobwebby hairy.  Notice also the somewhat cupped tips to the red-tinged phyllaries.

Synonym: Taraxacum ovinum.  Taraxacum ceratophorum.  (Alpine Dandelion)
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Eureka Gulch, July 18, 2009.The flower stem on this species is not hairy.  Phyllaries are broader and the outer row of phyllaries (bracts) are much shorter.  Notice also the deeply incised leaves.

This plant was at first named Leontodon ceratophorus by Ledebour in 1829 and was renamed Taraxacum ceratophorum by Augustin de Candolle in 1838.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Taraxacum eriophorum

Range map for Taraxacum ovinum (Taraxacum ceratophorum)