Hieracium - Hawkweeds

Hieracium - hawkweeds are a large group of similar, closely related species. Thereproduce by apomixis whereby viable seeds or spores are produced asexually, without fertilization, such that the genetic material they contain is a clone of the parent's genetic material. They require to be identified to species by an expert.

They can be recognised as they have no rhizomes or stolons. Species that come early in the season tend to just have a basal rosette of leaves at least initially. Species that come laterin the season tend to have alternate stem leaves.

They usual have many flower heads on a stem and are often tall, up 1.5 - 2m. Phyllaries in several rows, and look disordered, not in one or two rows like Crepis. Pappus is in one row of dirty-white to brown simple hairs. Ligules yellow, achenes not flattened.