Common Catsear, Hairy Catsear

Hypochaeris radicata L.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

rosette of fuzzy, lobed leaves▲

flowering plants with branched stems holding flowers▲▼

flowers▲▼

Common Catsear:  ( mentioned on pp. 148, Weeds of the Northeast; not in Weeds of the Great Plains)

·         Simple perennial in the Asteraceae family that forms a rosette of elongated oval, lobed, hairy leaves at ground level

·         Flowers are at the tips of thin, branched, nearly leafless stems that rise 6-24 inches above the rosettes

·         Common in dry soils, open turf, roadsides; is toxic to horses if grazed

·         Common catsear has more hairy leaves, and branched inflorescence stalks, compared to the smooth-leaved, one flower per stalk dandelion

·         Yellow Hawkweed also has branched flower stalks, but stalks and leaves both are hairy; also yellow hawkweed leaves have mostly unlobed margins