Hypochaeris radicata L.

Family: Asteraceae, Tribe: Chicorieae


Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

none

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

common catsear, rough catsear

Primary Disseminule Type

fruit (part of beak and pappus may be missing)

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit a cypsela. Cypsela body narrowly oblong to fusiform, cross-section terete, 3–5 mm long (without beak) x 0.7–0.9 mm diameter. Surface glabrous, dull, dark brown (sometimes purplish), longitudinally ribbed (ribs 10–12, muricate or scabrid throughout their lengths). Apex beaked (beak slender, 3–9 mm long, grading into the color of the rest of the body). Pappus of whitish to tan bristles in 2 series (the outer barbellate, short, slender, scabrid to plumose, the inner up to 12 mm long, plumose).

Style base distinctive, ± cylindrical.

Fruit attachment scar at base, a shiny, mildly segmented, cup-like structure situated at a mildly oblique angle (25–45°).

Similar Species

Similar Species Comparison Chart

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI