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Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus
Also called Texas False Dandelion, Texas Dandelion, Desert Chicory, Desertchicory, False Dandelion, Manystemmed False Dandelion
Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus, commonly known as smallflower desert-chicory, Texas false dandelion or Texas dandelion, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. It is a weedy annual found in prairies, clay soils and disturbed habitats such as fields and sidewalks.
As a freeze-hardy native wildflower, Texas dandelion can grow in full or partial sun and requires little water. It prefers well-drained soil, such as sand or clay. It can grow under tree canopies as well as in grasslands.
Roots can be used to brew dandelion tea or coffee. The leaves are edible but have a bitter taste, so they're often boiled before eating. It's also possible to make jelly out of Texas dandelion. According to physical organic chemist and forager Mark "Merriwether" Vorderbruggen, "The bitter flavor of the roots are becoming popular with high-end bartenders making their own concoctions where these roots replace traditional bitters."
Texas dandelion serves as a food source for several local species; cattle and white-tailed deer eat the leaves and stems, and Rio Grande turkeys eat the seeds. It attracts small pollinators, similar to related flowers.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
