SafePlants

Beaked Hawksbeard (Crepis vesicaria)

Beaked Hawksbeard, scientifically known as Crepis vesicaria, is a flowering plant belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). It's often mistaken for other similar plants like hawkbits, hawkweeds, and other hawk's-beards, making identification challenging.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant has dandelion-like flowers that are sometimes difficult to identify
• Crepis vesicaria has hairier leaves compared to similar species
• The plant grows up to 120cm.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Crepis vesicaria
• Common Names: Beaked Hawksbeard, Weedy Hawksbeard, Dandelion Hawk's-beard
• Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
• Subspecies: Crepis vesicaria subsp. taraxacifolia
• Synonyms: Crepis taraxacifolia

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Europe, specifically the eastern and southern regions.
• It has been naturalized in Britain.
• Found growing wild in Ireland.
• Observed in locations such as Birkdale, Merseyside; Suton, Surrey; and New Green Beach.

Morphological Characteristics

• A medium to tall hairy plant with branched stems.
• Leaves are dandelion-like, with the lowermost being stalked and the middle ones clasping the stems with pointed lobes.
• Grows up to 0.8 meters (approximately 2ft 7in) or potentially up to 120cm.
• Has bright yellow flowers held in loose clusters.

Flowering and Fruiting

• Flowers from May to July.
• Seeds ripen from June to August.
• Flowers are hermaphrodite.

Ecological Role

• The main forage plant for Panurgus calcaratus at many sites.

Quirky Facts

• The outer ray florets have an orange-red stripe on the underside, which helps to distinguish it from other Hawksbeards.
• It sometimes comes back into flower for a second time in the same year.

Related Species

• Compared to Smooth Crepis.
• Similar to Rough Hawksbeard.
• Often confused with similar plants such as hawksbeard, catsear and hawkbit, all which have dandelion-like flowers.
• Crepis setosa, the Bristly Hawksbeard, has a scattered distribution.
• Crepis occidentalis western hawksbeard, grey hawksbeard, largeflower hawksbeard.