Plants: Plants resemble miniature dandelions. They have
a basal rosette of leaves up to 6″ (15 cm) around, and yellow flowers on
bare stems a few inches in height. They prefer dry, sandy soil.
Leaves: Leaves are light green and oblanceolate—that
is, long and narrow, but widening toward the far end. They are also pinnatifid, lobed like
very coarse irregular saw teeth along the sides. Leaves and stems exude a white latex when broken.
Flowers: Flowering stalks are slender, hairless (except near the top), and leafless. Flowers
are yellow, ⅛-⅜″ (6-12 mm) in diameter, with may ray florets, each tipped by 5 teeth.
At the base of each flowerhead are 9-18 bracts. Flowers appear from April to August.
Fruits: Flowers are replaced by a ball of pappi. Each pappus
consists of an achene, and a small number of hairs. Like those on dandelions, the seeds are picked up by the wind and distributed.