Species: Beaked Hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria)
Family: Asters (ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Asters (ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE)
This is one of the largest worldwide flowering plant families and is well represented in the UK. The name Compositae refers to the clustering of the flowers (called florets) into compact heads, so that an entire cluster represents a single 'flower'. They also have one-seeded fruits called achenes.
C. Beaked Hawk's-beard (Crepis vesicaria)
This native species, like all Hawk's-beards has the outer row of sepal-like bracts short and spreading. The leaves are pinnately lobed and the outer florets usually orange beneath. It flowers from May.
Hawks were believed to eat hawkbits and hawkweeds to sharpen their eyesight. All of them give off a honey-like odour in the sunshine.
Images
Beaked Hawk's-beard
All Hawk's-beards give off a honey-like odour in the sunshine.
Beaked Hawk's-beard
Beaked Hawk's beard is a native flower that appears from May onwards.
