Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon (Tragopogon pratensis, Sp. Pl.: 789 (1753))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 789 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Tragopogon

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to C. Asia and Türkiye

Description

Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon, a fascinating plant known scientifically as Tragopogon pratensis, belongs to the extensive Asteraceae family. First documented by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753 under the reference Sp. Pl.: 789, this species has piqued the interest of botanists and plant enthusiasts alike for centuries.

Native to a broad geographical range stretching from Europe to Central Asia and Türkiye, Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon thrives in a variety of temperate climates. Its curious name is derived from its distinctive blooming behavior: the flowers open at dawn and close around midday, a habit that has earned the plant its whimsical nickname.

The plant features bright yellow flowers that resemble those of the dandelion, with a similar fine, feathery seed head that allows the wind to disperse its seeds over great distances. The stem is tall and erect, often reaching up to a meter in height, and it supports narrow, grass-like leaves that contribute to its delicate appearance.

Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon is not just a visual delight but also an ecological contributor, providing nectar and pollen for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, thus playing a role in supporting biodiversity. Its historical documentation and wide distribution make it a subject of interest for both historical botanists and modern ecologists.

Common Names

Ita: baciapreti, barba di becco comune, barba di becco pratense, salsefica
Dan: eng-gedeskæg, gedeskæg, gedeskæg coll.
Nor: geitskjegg
Deu: gewöhnlicher wiesen-bocksbart, habermark, wiesen-bocksbart, wiesen-bocksbart (i. w. s.)
Eng: goat’s-beard, goatsbeard, jack-go-to-bed-at-noon, johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon, meadow salsify, shepherd’s-clock, yellow goat’s-beard, meadow goatsbeard, goat’s beard, johnny go to bed at noon, shepherd’s clock
Est: harilik piimjuur
Swe: haverrot, piennarpukinparta, ängshaverrot
Pol: kozibród łąkowy
Sqi: lulebrigje e livadhit
Lit: pievinis pūtelis
Fin: pukinparta, piennarpukinparta
Lav: pļavas plostbārdis
Fra: salsifis des prés
Nno: geitskjegg
Nob: geitskjegg
Nld: oosterse morgenster en gele morgenster, gele morgenster, gele + oosterse morgenster, gele en oosterse morgenster
Bul: полска козя брада
Sme: gáicanjávvi
Cym: barf y bwch, barf yr afr, barf yr afr eden lleiaf, barf yr afr felen
En: Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon, Meadow salsify, Shepherd’s-clock, Yellow goat’s-beard, Goat’s-beard, Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon, Showy goatsbeard, Goatsbeard, Meadow goatsbeard, Goat’s beard, Johnny go to bed at noon, Shepherd’s clock, Meadow Salsafy, Noon Flower
Sq: Lulebrigje e livadhit
Hy: Սինձ
Az: Çəmən yemliyi
Be: Казлабарод лугавы
Bg: Ливадна козя брада, Полска козя брада
Kw: Barv an aver velyn
Hr: Kozja brada
Cs: Kozí brada luční
Da: Eng-Gedeskæg, Gedeskæg, Gedeskæg coll.
Nl: Gele en Oosterse morgenster, Gele morgenster, Oosterse morgenster en gele morgenster, Gele + Oosterse morgenster
Et: Harilik piimjuur
Fi: Piennarpukinparta, Pukinparta
Fr: Salsifis des prés, Salsifis des pres, Salsifis sauvage
De: Wiesen-Bocksbart, Habermarch, Wiesenbocksbart, Gewöhnlicher Wiesen-Bocksbart, Habermark, Wiesen-Bocksbart (i. w. S.), Gewöhnlicher Wiesenbocksbart
Hu: Réti bakszakáll
It: Baciapreti, Barba di becco comune, Salsefica, Barba di becco, Barba di Becco pratense, Barba-di-becco comune, Barba-di-becco pratense
Lv: Pļavas plostbārdis
Lt: Pievinis pūtelis
Se: Gáicanjávvi, Niitohávvarurttas
No: Geitskjegg
Nb: Geitskjegg
Nn: Geitskjegg
Pl: Kozibród łąkowy
Ru: Козлобородник луговой
Sk: Kozobrada lúčna
Es: Barba cabruna de prados, Barba cabruna, Barba de cabra, Barba de cabrón, Barba de choto, Barba de macho, Barbaja, Barbajas, Barbajo, Barbon, Barbón, Cabrón, Lecherina, Lecherín, Lechuga, Lencherina, Lencherín, Roseta calzada, Rosetón amarillo, Salsifí de prado, Salsifí verdadero, Salsifí, Yoca
Sv: Ängshaverrot, Ängshavrerot, Haverrot, Piennarpukinparta
Uk: Козельці лучні
Cy: Barf yr afr, Barf y Bwch, Barf yr Afr Eden Lleiaf, Barf yr Afr Felen

Synonyms

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 29, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 23, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 23, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 2, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 21, 2018 by Gym Skuteč (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2019 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 8, 2010 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 31, 2021 by Lüdtke Allen Scott (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 29, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 26, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 15, 2021 by beurny (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 29, 2022 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other

Taken Nov 3, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2019 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 3, 2020 by Patricia Berchtel (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 3, 2020 by Patricia Berchtel (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 15, 2020 by pier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2021 by Rîjniță Remus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2019 by Benjamin Gonella (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 2, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Emilie BERNARD (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:256112-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5386897)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Tragopogon pratensis L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 6