Hypochoeris glabra L. Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Europe Smooth Cat's-Ear

                                           May Photo 

                                                                                                                                                                     Plant Characteristics: Annual with lvs. in radical rosette; lvs. usually glabrous and not deeply lobed, spatulate-oblong, 2-10 cm. long; stems naked, 1-4 dm. high; heads campanulate; invol. 12-16 mm. high; ligules scarcely exceeding invol.; aks. dark brown, the outer almost 4 mm. long, the body 10- ribbed, narrow-oblong or fusiform, the outer truncate, the inner beaked; pappus ca. 9 mm. long, tinged yellowish or brownish.

Habitat:  Weed in fields and waste places.  March-June.

Name:  Greek name used by Theophrastus for this or some other genus.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 194).  Latin, glaber, smooth.  (Jaeger 110).

General:  Quite common in the Santa Ana Heights area and moderately common at 23rd St. and the Castaways bluffs.   Photographed at 23rd Street and the Santa Ana Heights Bluffs.  (my comments).       About 70 species, 12 in Europe, others S. Am.   (Munz, Flora So Calif. 194).       Pernicious weed of lawns, disturbed places, especially northern California and near coast.  (Hickman, Ed. 294).

Text Ref:  Abrams, Vol. IV 587; Hickman, Ed. 294; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 195; Roberts 12.

Abrams, Vol. IV 587.

Photo Ref:  May 3 83 # 6,7; March-April 85 #16,17; April-May 86 # 15,16.

Identity: by F. Roberts.  

First Found:  May 1983

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 323.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 5/8/05.  

                                         May Photo                                                                           April Photo