Seasonal Wild Flowers

Spotted Cat's-ear

Hypochaeris maculata

Asteraceae

June to August

It is very thinly scattered throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Spotted Cat's-ear

It grows on turf on limestone, sea cliffs and rocks.

Spotted Cat's-ear is a native, hairy, perennial herb growing

up to 60cm.

Flowers are pale yellow, up to 45mm and with bracts

shaggy with white hairs.

Leaves are in a basal rosette, toothed, with a slightly

reddish midrib and black-purple blotches.

The stems have 1 or 2 small leaves - the only Cat's-ear

with stem leaves.

Spotted Cat's-ear on limestone,

Silverdale, Lancs

Flowerheads

Ray and disc florets

Side view - shaggy bracts

Spotted basal rosette of leaves, and a stem leaf