This wildflower seems to go by many names. As near as I can find Googling *salsify* gets you started. I learned it as goatsbeard but it turns out that's also the name of a perennial. Meadow goatsbeard, western salsify, whatever - when it goes to seed as this one did it looks like a dandelion on steroids. The seed head is a hemisphere about 3 inches in diameter and each individual seed looks like a gold-ribbed parachute - especially in bright sun.