Flora of North America species comparison

Tragopogon porrifolius is occasionally cultivated in Europe and naturalized across much of North America. It grows typically in sites drier than those of T. pratensis and in sites shadier and/or moister than those of T. dubius. As currently circumscribed, it may not be monophyletic, and nomenclatural changes for the populations here may be required. In North America, T. porrifolius hybridizes with both T. dubius and T. pratensis (= T. ×neohybridus Farwell, described from North America, and T. ×mirabilis Rouy, described from Europe).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Tragopogon miscellus has been reported from near Gardiner, Montana; it is no longer present there.

Plants of Tragopogon miscellus are larger and more robust than those of T. pratensis. They are allote-traploids, formed (probably repeatedly) from hybrids between T. pratensis and T. dubius. Outer florets are shorter than the phyllaries except at some sites in Pullman, Washington, where outer florets equal or surpass the phyllaries. (The different inflorescence morphs result from reciprocal polyploid origins.) F1 hybrids between T. dubius and T. pratensis (= T. ×crantzii Dichtl) may resemble T. miscellus but are less robust, have low pollen stainability, and set few, if any, seeds. Tragopogon miscellus does not occur in Europe, but hybrids between T. dubius and T. pratensis occur occasionally.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)