Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Asteraceae / Compositae ⟩ Hypochaeris radicata / cat’s-ear

Hypochaeris radicata L.

cat’s-ear (Asteraceae / Compositae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyNW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Hypochaeris radicata is a very common and rather variable plant, up to 60 cm tall in sheltered locations; its leaves are all basal, usually sinuously lobed and with simple hairs.

Penbwchdy (VC45: Pembrokeshire); 2014-05-19

 cat’s-ear / Hypochaeris radicata: _Hypochaeris radicata_ is a very common and rather variable plant, up to 60 cm tall in sheltered locations; its leaves are all basal, usually sinuously lobed and with simple hairs.

Hypochaeris plants often have a swollen, hollow section at the top of the stem, just below the inflorescence.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-06-19

 cat’s-ear / Hypochaeris radicata: _Hypochaeris_ plants often have a swollen, hollow section at the top of the stem, just below the inflorescence.

Achenes from the centre of the head have a feathery pappus; those from the edges have a pappus of simple hairs.

Minch Moor (VC79: Selkirkshire); 2014-08-05

 cat’s-ear / Hypochaeris radicata: Achenes from the centre of the head have a feathery pappus; those from the edges have a pappus of simple hairs.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne