Taxonomy

Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub, Folia Geobot. Phytotax. 8. 1973

Common synonyms

Crepis echioides (L.) All.; Helminthia aculeata subsp. mollis (Duby) Arcang.; Helminthia dichotoma Dulac; Helminthia echioides (L.) Gaertn.; Helminthia echioides (L.) Holub; Helminthia echioides (L.) Juss.; Helminthia echioides subsp. humifusa (Willd.) Arcang.; Helminthia echioides var. angustifolia Boiss.; Helminthia echioides var. echioides; Helminthia echioides var. glabra Vis.; Helminthia echioides var. mollis Duby; Helminthia humifusa (Willd.) Trevir.; Helminthia pratensis Chevall.; Helminthia rigida Schult.; Helminthia rigida Schult. ex Steud.; Helminthia spinosa DC.; Helminthia tuberculata Moench; Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Lack; Helminthotheca echioides var. incisa P. D. Sell; Helminthotheca echioides var. mollis (Duby) P. D. Sell; Helminthotheca echioides var. pratensis (Chevall.) P. D. Sell; Helmintia echioides (L.) Gaertn.; Picris echioides L.; Picris echioides var. crepidiformis Thell.; Picris echioides var. echioides; Picris echioides var. humifusa (Willd.) Thell.; Picris echioides var. pratensis (DC.) Maire; Picris echioides var. tuberculata (Moench) Fiori; Picris humifusa Willd.; Picris ruderalis Salisb.; Picris spinosa (DC.) Poir.

Common name

Bristly Oxtongue

Description

Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 2.3-3.9 mm long, 0.6-1.4 mm wide, in side view widest in upper part (obovoid), +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, in cross-section flattened, basal scar (carpopodium) inconspicuous and undifferentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) present, beak length 2-4 mm, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw or dark brown, wrinkled, with no hairs (glabrous), thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs absent, their surfaces toothed, serrated or scale-like, with no hairs (glabrous).

Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 5.5-7.5 mm long, in one (?) row, pappus elements numerous, falling off as a whole or elements falling off individually, the individual bristles rough / serrated (barbellate) or feathery (plumose) along most of length, +/- equal width along length, white / translucent.