Common Hawkweed
Hieracium aurantiacum or related Hieracium species · Asteraceae (Aster, Daisy, or Sunflower family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, perennial rosette forming
Shape
Lanceolate to spatulate with a tapered base
Margin
Entire to slightly wavy or minutely toothed
Arrangement
Basal rosette clustered near the ground
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent central midrib and branching secondary veins
Key Features
Clustered basal rosettes of hairy, lanceolate-spatulate leaves with entire to wavy margins, often exuding a milky sap when broken
Description
These plants form dense basal rosettes of hairy, tongue-shaped leaves clinging close to the ground near stone borders. During the flowering season, they send up slender, hairy stalks topped with dandelion-like flower heads.
Habitat
Disturbed soils, lawns, fields, roadsides, and rocky outcrops, preferring acidic soils and full sun to partial shade
Native Range
Native to Europe, widely introduced and naturalized across North America and parts of Asia