Krigia virginica (Dwarf dandelion)

Krigia virginica (L.) Willd.

Dwarf dandelion, Virginia dwarfdandelion

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Krigia	Named for German physician David Krieg, who first collected this plant in Maryland
Species	virginica	“Of or from Virginia”

About plant names...

Dwarf dandelion is native New England.

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.

Online References:

Krigia virginica at Illinois Wildflowers

Krigia virginica on gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Krigia virginica on botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca

Krigia virginica on florida.plantatlas.usf.edu

Krigia virginica on wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu

Krigia virginica on www1.maine.gov