Seasonal Wild Flowers

Bristly Oxtongue

Picris echioides

Asteraceae

Helminthotheca echioides

June to November

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

North, the West Midlands and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Bristly Oxtongue

It is an archaeophyte.

It grows on shingle, walls, cliffs and waste ground by

the sea, by field edges and roads.

Bristly Oxtongue is an annual or biennial, prickly herb,

growing up to 80cm.

The bristles are unusual in that they have swollen bases.

Flowers are pale yellow, up to 2.5cm across and with

prickly. triangular bracts.

The stems are hairy and the lower leaves pimply.

Bristly Oxtongue on Brighton shingle

Flower - ray and disc florets

Triangular, prickly bracts

Prickly upper leaves

Basal leaves -warts and all!