#pilosella caespitosa

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Meadow Hawkweed (Hieracium Caespitosum)  

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Meadow Hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum)

[lonialine]

Pilosella caespitosa

Hypoxis hirsuta

Ficus benjamina

[bellenever]

Meadow Hawkweed Pilosella caespitosa is a creeping perennial, with shallow, fibrous roots and long rhizomes. The leaves, hairy on both sides (unlike Pilosella floribunda, which looks similar but has hair only on the underside), are up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) long, spathulate, and almost exclusively basal with the exception of 1 or 2 very small cauline leaves. The leaves lie flat to the ground, overlap, and will smother non-vigorous turf. The stems are bristly and usually leafless, although occasionally a small leaf appears near the midpoint. Stems, leaves, and bracts have dense, blackish hairs and exude milky juice when broken. The 1/2 inch (1 centimeter) flower heads appear in tight clusters at the top of the 1 to 3 foot (1/3 to 1 meter) stems with 5 to 40 flowers per cluster. Corollas are all ligulate and bright yellow. Each single flower head is an inflorescence and each petal forms its own seed, making them each a separate flower or floret. The seeds are shiny, black, and plumed. After maturing they are dispersed by wind, clothing, hair, feathers, and some vehicles that disturb fields or soils. P. caespitosa persists and regrows each year from rhizomes and often spreads by stolons, which can be extensive, creating a dense mat of hawkweed plants (a colony) that practically eliminates other vegetation. P. caespitosa prefers silt loam, well-drained soil: coarse textures, moderately low in organic matter, and moist. Its presence can be an indicator of low soil fertility or slightly acidic soils. P. caespitosa has, in the past, been used for healing eyesight. Pliny the Elder had recorded information regarding how other species, specifically hawks, utilized P. caespitosa, specifically believing that they would eat it in an effort to improve eyesight. (at Monteith, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2-bhJ1H7UH/?igshid=1sa6dnex2fuf

[mbsposts]

MP230.01  Little Glade Mill Pond   Blue Ridge Parkway   20190514

Yellow Hawkweed   Pilosella caespitosa

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Meadow Hawkweed (Hieracium Caespitosum)  

[mbsposts]

MP230.01  Little Glade Mill Pond   Blue Ridge Parkway   20180511

Yellow Hawkweed   Pilosella caespitosa