Hawkweed Oxtongue
Hawkweed Oxtongue near landslip,
Lyme Regis
Bright yellow florets
Side view of flowerhead
3 layers of bracts with hairs - some black
Wavy edged leaves and red lower stem
Branches at right angles
Picris hieracioides
Asteraceae
July to October
It is found throughout the country ecept for parts of the
Southwest, East Anglia and the Midlands, and large
parts of the North.
See the BSBI distribution map for Hawkweed Oxtongue
It grows in calcareous and limestone habitats such as,
grazed grassland and quarries, and by roads and railways.
Hawkweed Oxtongue is a native, stiff, bristly, branched
biennial or perennial herb, growing up to 1m.
Flowers are up to 35mm with bright yellow florets.
The florets may be tinged reddish below.
The flowerhead has 3 layers of bracts.
The inner ones are erect and the outer ones are
variably spreading or recurved.
Bracts have hairs down a central strip - some are
black.
Leaves are hairy, lanceolate and wavy edged.
The bottom surface of a leaf has stiff hairs along
the rib.
The stem is stiff, wiry and bristly.
It is red below and variably branched and is unusual
in having branches at right angles.
Hawkweed Oxtongue near landslip,
Lyme Regis
Bright yellow florets
Side view of flowerhead
3 layers of bracts with hairs - some black
Wavy edged leaves and red lower stem
Branches at right angles
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