HYPOCHAERIS ACHYROPHORUS

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Mediterranean catsear

Synonyms:- Achyrophorus valdesii

Meaning:- Hypochaeris (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher

Theophrastus.

Achyrophorus (Gr) Chaff-bearer (the receptacular scales).

General description:- Annual.

Stems:-

1) 8-35(-60) cm, usually branched, sometimes thickened immediately below the

capitula, hispid at least above, sometimes with remote, linear scales.

Leaves:-

1) 3-18 cm, spathulate, oblanceolate or obovate, entire to lobed, hispid.

2) Cauline, 0-several.

Flowers:-

1) Capitula, up to 15 mm wide.

2) Involucral bracts up to 14 x 2 mm, in several rows, densely hispid.

3) Ligules golden or orange-yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 4·5-6·5 mm, beaked.

2) Pappus of 2 rows of hairs.

a) outer c. 0·5 mm.

b) inner 4-6 mm, plumose, narrowly lanceolate-dilated at the base.

Key features:-

1) Stem hispid, at least above.

2) Capitula up to15 mm wide.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Open dry shrubby vegetation, sandy fallow fields, olive groves, dry

grassland and other open habitats. 0-1500 m.

Distribution:- Common throughout S and C Greece. N and NE Mediterranean

region eastwards to Cyrenaica and W Anatolia. Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mid-May to June.

Photos by:- Ingvild-Anita Velde