Taxonomy

Urospermum picroides (L.) Scop. ex F.W.Schmidt, F. W. Schmidt, in Samml. Phys.-Ökon. Aufsätze 1. 1795

Common synonyms

Arnopogon asper (L.) Willd.; Arnopogon capensis (Jacq.) Willd.; Arnopogon picroides (L.) Willd.; Daumailia spinulosa Arènes; Tragopogon aculeatus Moench; Tragopogon asper L.; Tragopogon capensis Jacq.; Tragopogon picridoides (L.) Willd.; Tragopogon picroides L.; Tragopogon sonchifolius Salisb.; Urospermum asperum (L.) DC.; Urospermum capense (Jacq.) Spreng.; Urospermum picroides (L.) Scop.; Urospermum picroides var. asperum (L.) Duby; Urospermum picroides var. laeve Maire; Urospermum picroides var. picroides

Common name

False Hawkbit, prickly goldenfleece.

Description

Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 5-7.5 mm long, 0.8-1.5 mm wide, in side view widest in upper part (obovoid), conspicuously curved, the upper (apical) end narrowing, in cross-section flattened, basal scar (carpopodium) pronounced and well-differentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) present, beak length 4-6 mm, wings absent or wings present, 0-0.6 mm wide, fruit surface light brown or straw, with round protrusions or bumps, with no hairs (glabrous) or woolly / crispate hairs, thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs absent or present, 2, their surfaces smooth or toothed, serrated or scale-like, with no hairs (glabrous), rarely woolly / crispy hairs.

Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 7.5-12 mm long, in one row, pappus elements numerous, falling off as a whole, the individual bristles feathery (plumose) along most of length, +/- equal width along length, white / translucent.

Ecology

Annual to biennial herb, seeds wind-dispersed. Warm-temperate regions. Found on sandy soils and limestone, in distrubed sites, along watercourses and roads.