Hypochaeris radicata - Cat's-ear

This is a common weed of lawns because the flat central rosette survives mowing.

The leaves are bristly- hairy and wavy-lobed with broad blunt end - a cat’s ear.

There are no leaves on the stem - just green scales. The stems enlarge just below the flower. The stem is either unbranched or branched up to twice.

Flowers are single. Bracts often have a white stripe up the middle and a ‘cocks-comb’ of stiff hairs near the tip.

Hypochaeris radicata NS6158 9July23 PW

Hypochaeris radicata NS7151 17Aug2017 PW

Arrows highlighting the white stripe on the bracts, the ‘cocks-comb’ hairs at the end of 3 of the bracts and the clear ‘shoulder’ at the top of the stem.

Hypochearis radicata NS9354 8Aug23 FH

Hypochaeris radicata NS7151 17Aug2017 PW

This is a large and robust example.

Hypochaeris radicata NS7849 25Sep2020 MP