Hypochaeris glabra

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 811. 1753.

Common names: Smooth cat’s ear
Introduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 298. Mentioned on page 299.

Annuals, 10–50 cm; taproots slender, vertical; caudices small, ± herbaceous. Stems (1–30), sparingly branched at midstem or distally (lateral branches often short, minutely bracteate or naked), glabrous. Leaves usually all basal; blades oblanceolate to oblong, 20–110 × 5–30 mm, margins nearly entire to dentate or pinnatifid, faces usually glabrous or glabrate, sometimes hirsute on veins. Heads borne singly or 2–3 in loose, cymiform arrays (terminating branches, not showy). Involucres narrowly campanulate, 8–16 × (3–)5–20 mm. Phyllaries 18–20, lanceolate, 3–18 mm, unequal, margins scarious, faces glabrous (apices brownish or reddish, sometimes ciliate). Florets 20–40; corollas white to yellowish, 5–8 mm, ± equaling phyllaries at flowering. Cypselae dimorphic, outer cylindric, stout, truncate, inner fusiform, slender, beaked; bodies dark brown, 10-nerved, 8–10 mm, beaks 3–4 mm; pappi of tawny bristles in 2 series, outer barbellate, shorter than plumose inner, longest 9–10 mm. 2n = 8, 10, 12.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Jun(–Dec).
Habitat: Grassy slopes, sage scrub, pine-hardwood forest, disturbed areas, roadsides, commonly in sandy soil
Elevation: 100–1300 m

Distribution

V19-434-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; B.C., Ala., Ark., Calif., Fla., Ga., Ill., La., Maine, Mass., Miss., N.Y., N.C., Oreg., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Wash., W.Va., Europe.

Discussion

Hypochaeris glabra is usually distinguishable by its annual habit and relatively small size, slender and shallow roots, fine stems, often glabrous leaves, and beakless, truncate outer cypselae. Occasional specimens are larger and have induments characteristics of H. radicata; they can be distinguished by the dimorphic cypselae.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Hypochaeris glabra"
David J. Bogler +
Linnaeus +
Smooth cat’s ear +
B.C. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Calif. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, La. +, Maine +, Mass. +, Miss. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Oreg. +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Wash. +, W.Va. +  and Europe. +
100–1300 m +
Grassy slopes, sage scrub, pine-hardwood forest, disturbed areas, roadsides, commonly in sandy soil +
Flowering Feb–Jun(–Dec). +
Introduced +
Undefined tribe Lactuceae +
Hypochaeris glabra +
Hypochaeris +
species +