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Brazilian cat's ear, Tweedy's cat's ear

Habit Biennials or perennials, 30–70 cm; taproots vertical, deep, thick, caudices stout. Annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs, or shrubs [trees, vines] (sap usually milky).
Stems

(1–5) erect or ascending, simple or sparingly branched distally, glabrous or pilose proximally.

Leaves

basal and proximally cauline;

basal blades elliptic to oblanceolate, 60–200 × 10–50 mm, margins coarsely and sharply dentate or 2-dentate, ciliate, faces glabrous or coarsely hirsute (cauline sessile, blades lanceolate, 50–100 × 10–30 mm, margins sharply dentate or pinnatifid; distal reduced, entire).

basal and/or cauline; alternate (proximal opposite in Shinnersoseris) [opposite]; petiolate or sessile;

margins usually dentate or pinnately lobed (then frequently runcinate), sometimes prickly, sometimes entire, rarely much divided (bases often clasping).

Involucres

broadly campanulate, 10–20 × 5–20 mm.

Receptacles

flat to convex, epaleate (sometimes bristly-setose) or paleate (paleae enfold and fall with subtended cypselae in Scolymus).

Florets

50–100+;

corollas yellow, 5–7 mm, equaling phyllaries at flowering.

ligulate (bisexual, fertile);

corollas usually yellow to orange, sometimes cyanic or white (zygomorphic, 5-toothed);

anther bases usually tailed, apical appendages ovate to lanceolate or hardly developed (pollen sometimes brightly colored);

styles abaxially usually papillate to hirsute (mostly distally), branches filiform to stout, adaxially continuously stigmatic from bases almost to apices, apices rounded to acute, appendages essentially 0.

Phyllaries

20–30, linear-lanceolate, 4–15 mm, unequal, ± hirsute (at least medially).

usually persistent, usually in 3–5+ series, distinct, and unequal, sometimes in 1–2 series, distinct or connate, and subequal to equal, margins (seldom prickly) and/or apices sometimes notably scarious (phyllaries sometimes enfold and fall with subtended florets or cypselae, e.g., in Rhagadiolus).

Calyculi

0 or of 1–15+ bractlets in 1–3+ series.

Heads

1–10, in loose, paniculiform to corymbiform arrays.

homogamous (liguliflorous), usually in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays, sometimes borne singly (on scapiform peduncles), sometimes subsessile in axillary clusters on stems or among leaves of basal rosettes [aggregated in second-order heads].

Cypselae

monomorphic, all beaked;

bodies golden brown, fusiform, 8–10 mm, muricate, ribs 4–5;

pappi of white, plumose bristles in 1 series, 6–8 mm.

usually monomorphic within heads, ± clavate, columnar, ellipsoid, fusiform, or prismatic, often compressed, obcompressed, or flattened, often beaked or apically tapered, bodies smooth, muricate, rugose, or tuberculate, often ribbed, sometimes winged (glabrous or hairy);

pappi (rarely 0) persistent or readily falling, usually of fine to coarse, often barbellate, sometimes plumose bristles, sometimes of awns or scales, sometimes combinations of bristles, awns, and/or scales (scales often aristate).

2n

= 8, 10.

Hypochaeris chillensis

Asteraceae tribe cichorieae

Phenology Flowering Apr.
Habitat Waste areas with sandy soil, roadsides, lawns
Elevation 0–100 m (0–300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TX; South America [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Nearly worldwide; mostly in Old World; mostly at temperate latitudes [Some species widely introduced]
Discussion

Hypochaeris chillensis is recognized by the sharply dentate or pinnatifid cauline leaves, yellow corollas, and monomorphic, beaked cypselae. Plants in the flora area differ from those found elsewhere mainly in having the outer phyllaries somewhat more hirsute medially.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Genera ca. 100, species ca. 1600 (49 genera, 229 species in the flora).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key

Note from the editors: The key to the genera of Cichorieae present some issues when trying to key out some members of genus Hypochaeris and, possibly, of other genera as well. The user is warned that the key may not work for all species within the tribe.

1. Cypselae beaked (outer sometimes beakless in Hypochaeris)
→ 2
1. Cypselae beakless
→ 26
2. Stems scapiform
→ 3
2. Stems leafy
→ 10
3. Heads usually in spiciform, paniculiform, cymiform, or corymbiform arrays (sometimes borne singly)
→ 4
3. Heads borne singly
→ 5
4. Leaf margins spiny; calyculi 0; phyllaries in 3–5+ series, unequal; pappi of crisped (frizzy), outer and straight, coarse, inner bristles
Launaea
4. Leaf margins not spiny; calyculi of 5–12 bractlets; phyllaries in 1(–2) series, equal; pappi of uniform bristles
Crepis
5. Pappi of outer scales and inner bristles, or of aristate scales
→ 6
5. Pappi of bristles
→ 7
6. Cypsela beaks relatively long or 0; pappi of outer scales and inner, plumose bristles; annuals or perennials; leaves oblanceolate to oblong
Leontodon
6. Cypsela beaks relatively short; pappi of lanceolate, apically notched, aristate scales, aristae smooth; annuals; leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate, grasslike
Uropappus
7. Receptacles paleate; corollas pink, purple, lavender, or nearly white; perennials
Pinaropappus
7. Receptacles usually epaleate (if paleate, corollas yellow; some Agoseris); corollas usually yellow to orange, rarely ochroleucous, pink, pinkish, purplish, or white; annuals, biennials, or perennials
→ 8
8. Calyculi of (6–)8–18(–20) bractlets in 1–3 series; phyllaries equal; perennials
Taraxacum
8. Calyculi 0; phyllaries equal or unequal; annuals, biennials, or perennials
→ 9
9. Leaves entire, toothed, or pinnately lobed (not spiny); heads borne singly; corollas yellow, orange, pinkish, purplish, or white; pappi of ± barbellate bristles; annuals or perennials
Agoseris
9. Leaves often pinnately lobed, ultimate margins dentate (spiny); heads borne singly or in spiciform or paniculiform arrays; corollas yellow to ochroleucous; pappi of crisped (frizzy), outer and straight, coarse, inner bristles; annuals or biennials
Launaea
10. Pappi of plumose bristles or subulate scales; annuals or biennials
→ 11
10. Pappi of smooth or barbellate bristles, or of subulate scales or awns, or of aristate scales; annuals, biennials, or perennials
→ 13
11. Corollas white, sometimes abaxially rose- or purple-veined; calyculi of spreading to reflexed, unequal bractlets; annuals
Rafinesquia
11. Corollas yellow, orange, purple, or pinkish to purplish; calyculi 0; annuals or biennials
→ 12
12. Leaves linear to lance-linear or lance-attenuate, entire; peduncles inflated distally; involucres campanulate; pappi of subulate scales; biennials (winter annuals); heads borne singly; corollas yellow or purple
Tragopogon
12. Leaves mostly obovate to oblong-obovate, the distal ovate to linear, usually pinnately lobed, sometimes dentate or entire; peduncles little, if at all, inflated distally; involucres urceolate; pappi of bristles; annuals; heads borne singly or in corymbiform arrays; corollas yellow, sometimes abaxially striped with red.
Urospermum
13. Perennials
→ 14
13. Annuals or biennials
→ 18
14. Involucres narrowly cylindric, 1–2+ mm diam.; phyllaries (4–)5; florets 5; cypselae obovoid to lanceoloid
Mycelis
14. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 2–5 mm diam.; phyllaries 5–21; florets 6–150+; cypselae cylindric to fusiform or lanceoloid
→ 15
15. Corollas usually bluish; cypselae lanceoloid
Mulgedium
15. Corollas yellow to white; cypselae cylindric to fusiform
→ 16
16. Phyllaries 8–21+; pappi: outer crowns of spreading, white hairs plus 2–3+ inner series of rufous to stramineous bristles
Pyrrhopappus
16. Phyllaries 5–10; pappi of white bristles
→ 17
17. Calyculi of 3–4, minute bractlets; involucres cylindric; cypselae cylindric, 5+-ribbed (without rings of scales); pappi of 40–50+ bristles
Chondrilla
17. Calyculi of 3–10+, deltate to lanceolate bractlets; involucres campanulate to cylindric; cypselae fusiform, 10-ribbed or -winged (with rings of scales at bases of beaks); pappi of 20–30 bristles
Ixeris
18. Peduncles inflated distally (fistulose); pappi of aristate scales
Uropappus
18. Peduncles not inflated distally; pappi of bristles or subulate scales (not aristate)
→ 19
19. Receptacles paleate; outer cypselae beakless; all or inner pappus bristles plumose.
Hypochaeris
19. Receptacles epaleate; all cypselae beaked; pappus bristles usually barbellulate or smooth (sometimes plumose in Helminthotheca)
→ 20
20. Calyculi 0; leaves spiny
Launaea
20. Calyculi of 2–16 bractlets; leaves not spiny
→ 21
21. Cypselae dimorphic, outer gibbous, inner ellipsoid to fusiform, not ribbed (rugulose); pappi of subulate to setiform scales
Helminthotheca
21. Cypselae monomorphic, ellipsoid, oblong, obovoid, or lanceoloid, or cylindric to fusiform, ribbed; pappi of bristles (sometimes with minute outer crowns as well)
→ 22
22. Cypselae ellipsoid to oblong or obovoid to lanceoloid; pappi of minute outer crowns plus inner bristles (sometimes 2–3+ series of bristles in Lactuca)
→ 23
22. Cypselae fusiform, not or little compressed; pappi of bristles
→ 24
23. Involucres narrowly cylindric, 1–2+ mm diam.; calyculi of 2–4 bractlets in 1 series
Mycelis
23. Involucres campanulate to cylindric, 2–5 mm diam.; calyculi of 3– 10+ bractlets in 2–3 series
Lactuca
24. Stems dotted with tack-glands; pappus bristles basally connate (fall- ing in rings), white
Calycoseris
24. Stems eglandular or glandular (without tack-glands); pappus bristles distinct or inner basally connate, white to tawny
→ 25
25. Heads usually in cymiform, corymbiform, or paniculiform arrays, sometimes borne singly; corollas usually yellow or orange, sometimes white, pink, or reddish; cypselae 10–20- ribbed
Crepis
25. Heads borne singly; corollas white to pale yellow; cypselae 4– 5-angled or -ribbed (angles roughened)
Glyptopleura
26. Stems scapiform
→ 27
26. Stems leafy
→ 42
27. Pappi 0 or coroniform
→ 28
27. Pappi of bristles and/or scales, or of aristate scales
→ 31
28. Perennials; leaves (± fleshy) linear to oblanceolate, margins entire; calyculi 0.
Phalacroseris
28. Annuals or biennials; leaves obovate or oblanceolate to spatulate, margins ± dentate or lobed; calyculi of 1–10+ bractlets or 0
→ 29
29. Leaf margins pinnately lobed; cypselae oblong, 10–13-ribbed
Lapsanastrum
29. Leaf margins ± dentate to toothed; cypselae obovoid or subcylindric to weakly clavate, 4–5- or 8–10-ribbed
→ 30
30. Leaves oblanceolate to spatulate; heads borne singly or 2–3; peduncles naked, inflated distally; involucres broadly campanulate to urceolate; phyllaries basally connate; cypselae obovoid, 8–10-ribbed
Arnoseris
30. Leaves obovate; heads in corymbiform arrays; peduncles sometimes bracteate, not inflated distally; involucres cylindro-campanulate; phyllaries distinct; cypselae subcylindric or weakly clavate, 4–5-ribbed (ribs corky)
Atrichoseris
31. Heads usually in corymbiform, paniculiform, or cymiform arrays; calyculi of 3–12 bractlets
→ 32
31. Heads usually borne singly (sometimes in spiciform or paniculiform arrays in Launaea); calyculi 0
→ 33
32. Leaves entire or dentate to pinnatifid (often lyrate or runcinate); cypselae 10– 20-ribbed; pappi of usually distinct, white to tawny bristles
Crepis
32. Leaves pinnately lobed (lyrate); cypselae 11–13-ribbed (ribs spiculate); pappi of basally connate, white bristles
Youngia
33. Pappi of subulate or aristate scales
→ 34
33. Pappi wholly or partly of bristles (in Leontodon, pappi of outer cypselae of scales, of inner cypselae of bristles; sometimes scales + bristles in Krigia)
→ 36
34. Heads erect; cypselae narrowed distally; pappi of lustrous, white subulate or aristate scales (bodies narrowly lanceolate to subulate)
Nothocalaïs
34. Heads nodding (at least in bud); cypsela apices truncate; pappus scales silvery to yellowish, brownish, or blackish (rarely white), plumose, barbellate, or barbellulate
→ 35
35. Involucres fusiform to ovoid or globose; pappi of deltate, lanceolate, linear, oblong, orbiculate, or ovate aristate scales, aristae plumose, barbellate, or barbellulate
Microseris
35. Involucres campanulate; pappi of narrowly lanceolate aristate scales, aristae barbellulate
Stebbinsoseris
36. Pappi of outer cypselae of scales, of inner cypselae of plumose bristles
Leontodon
36. Pappi of bristles or of outer scales plus inner bristles
→ 37
37. Phyllary margins papery (wider than midribs); receptacles paleate; pappus bristles plumose
Anisocoma
37. Phyllary margins not papery; receptacles usually epaleate (sometimes paleate in Agoseris); pappus bristles mostly smooth, barbellulate, or ± barbellate
→ 38
38. Leaves spiny; corollas yellow to ochroleucous; pappi of crisped (frizzy), outer and coarse, straight, inner bristles
Launaea
38. Leaves not spiny; corollas usually yellow to orange, sometimes pink, purple, or red; pappi of ± barbellate bristles
→ 39
39. Phyllaries in 1–2 series; cypselae 10–20-nerved or -ribbed; pappi of 5 outer scales plus 5–45 inner bristles
Krigia
39. Phyllaries in 2–5(–7) series; cypselae 8–10(–15)-ribbed; pappi of bristles in 1–6 series
→ 40
40. Phyllaries hairy or glabrous; cypselae usually beaked (6– 31 mm)
Agoseris
40. Phyllaries usually glabrous; cypselae not beaked (5–10 mm)
→ 41
41. Plants taprooted; pappi of 30–80, whitish bristles
Nothocalaïs
41. Plants rhizomatous (usually in bogs); pappi of 24–48, brownish bristles
Microseris
42. Pappi 0, or of scales or aristate scales, or of awns plus bristles, or coroniform
→ 43
42. Pappi wholly or mostly of bristles (sometimes with minute outer scales)
→ 54
43. Pappi 0
→ 44
43. Pappi of scales or aristate scales, or of awns or subulate scales plus bristles, or coroniform
→ 47
44. Stems winged, wings spiny; receptacles paleate
Scolymus
44. Stems not winged; receptacles epaleate
→ 45
45. Heads borne singly; florets 5–35; cypselae ± monomorphic (1.3–1.7 mm).
Krigia
45. Heads in corymbiform or thyrsiform arrays; florets 5–15; cypselae heteromorphic (3–25 mm, outer longer than inner)
→ 46
46. Leaves ovate to suborbiculate, coarsely dentate; heads in corymbiform to thyrsiform arrays; cypselae subcylindric (curved), terete to slightly compressed, ± 20-ribbed
Lapsana
46. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to linear, entire or dentate to pinnately lobed; heads in ± corymbiform arrays; cypselae ± terete (outer straight or arcuate, inner straight to coiled), not ribbed
Rhagadiolus
47. Corollas usually blue, sometimes pink or white; cypselae prismatic, 3–5-angled; pappi coroniform (erose scales)
Cichorium
47. Corollas orange or yellow to white or pink to lavender; cypselae columnar or cylindric to fusiform or obconic, 6–15-ribbed; pappi usually of scales (scales sometimes aristate), sometimes of awns or subulate scales plus bristles, or coroniform (Krigia wrightii, annuals, cypselae 1.3–1.6 mm)
→ 48
48. Phyllaries enfolding outer cypselae
→ 49
48. Phyllaries not enfolding outer cypselae
→ 50
49. Peduncles inflated distally; calyculi of 3–10+, deltate to lanceolate bractlets; phyllaries 5–13+ in 1 series; florets 8–30+; cypselae cylindric to fusiform, 12–15-ribbed; pappi of outer cypselae coroniform (short scales), of inner cypselae of lance-aristate to subulate-aristate scales (0–5+ outer and 5+ inner)
Hedypnois
49. Peduncles not inflated distally; calyculi of 8–13, linear to filiform bractlets; phyllaries 20–25+ in 2+ series; florets 30–100+; cypselae columnar, 6–8(–10)-ribbed; pappi of setiform scales plus smooth or barbellate bristles
Tolpis
50. Heads ± nodding (at least in bud); pappi of aristate scales
→ 51
50. Heads erect; pappi of setiform, subulate, or aristate scales or of awns or subulate scales plus bristles
→ 52
51. Perennials; involucres campanulate, fusiform, ovoid, or globose; pappus scales deltate, lanceolate, linear, oblong, orbiculate, or ovate, aristae plumose, barbellate, or barbellulate
Microseris
51. Annuals; involucres campanulate; pappus scales narrowly lanceolate, aristae barbellulate
Stebbinsoseris
52. Perennials; leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, entire; corollas pale lavender to white; cypselae 5-angled or -ridged; pappi of awns or subulate scales plus bristles
Chaetadelpha
52. Annuals, biennials, or perennials; leaves ovate-lanceolate or oblong to lanceolate or linear, entire or pinnately lobed; corollas white, yellow, or purplish; cypselae sometimes 10-nerved; pappi of setiform, subulate, or aristate scales
→ 53
53. Leaves oblong or lanceolate to oblanceolate or linear, spiny; involucres campanulate to urceolate; receptacles paleate; corollas yellow; cypselae obovoid, ribs 0; pappi (0 or) of 2–4 setiform to aristate scales plus 0–4 muticous to lanceolate scales.
Scolymus
53. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate or linear, not spiny; involucres ovoid to cylindric; receptacles epaleate; corollas whitish to yellow or purplish; cypselae columnar to obclavate or fusiform, not compressed, usually 10-nerved; pappi of 28–50+ plumose to barbellate, subulate to setiform scales
Scorzonera
54. Shrubs; California
Munzothamnus
54. Annuals, biennials, or perennials
→ 55
55. Corollas yellow, orange, ochroleucous, pinkish to reddish, or white (sometimes abaxially pinkish, reddish, or purplish)
→ 56
55. Corollas usually purple, lavender, pink, or blue, sometimes white, rarely yellow
→ 62
56. Leaves spiny (on margins, bases often auriculate); phyllaries in 3–5+ series
→ 57
56. Leaves not spiny (bases not auriculate); phyllaries in 1–2+, or 2–3, or 4–6 series
→ 58
57. Involucres 3–5 mm diam.; phyllaries 18–25; cypselae weakly compressed, cylindric to prismatic or fusiform, 4–5-ribbed (or grooved), ribs muricate; pappi of crisped (frizzy, often basally coherent or connate), outer plus straight, coarse, inner bristles
Launaea
57. Involucres 5–15+ mm diam.; phyllaries 27–50; cypselae compressed, oblong or oblanceoloid to elliptic, 2–4(–5)-ribbed, smooth, rugose, or tuberculate; pappi of distinct outer bristles plus basally coherent or connate inner bristles
Sonchus
58. Calyculi 0
→ 59
58. Calyculi usually of 3–16+ bractlets (sometimes intergrading with phyllaries)
→ 60
59. Heads borne singly; corollas yellow to orange; pappi (usually 2-seriate): outer of 5+ scales, inner of 5–45 bristles
Krigia
59. Heads in corymbiform to paniculiform arrays; corollas yellow to white; pappi (1 or 2-seriate): outer pappi 0, or of minute teeth plus 0–6 bristles, inner (or only) pappi of 15–35, basally coherent bristles
Malacothrix
60. Perennials; phyllaries in 2+ series; cypselae columnar or prismatic to ± urceolate
Hieracium
60. Annuals, biennials, or perennials; phyllaries in 1–2 series; cypselae subcylindric to fusiform
→ 61
61. Corollas yellow or orange (white, pink, reddish), not abaxially reddish; cypselae 10–20-ribbed, sometimes spiculate; pappi persistent, of distinct bristles
Crepis
61. Corollas yellow, often abaxially reddish; cypselae 5–10-ribbed, transversely rugulose; pappi falling, of basally connate bristles
Picris
62. Annuals
→ 63
62. Perennials
→ 65
63. Pappus bristles distinct, plumose (at least distally)
Stephanomeria
63. Pappus bristles basally connate, smooth or barbellulate
→ 64
64. Stems glandular-puberulent to glabrescent; leaves basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate or minute, margins irregularly dentate to runcinate, often spinulose; peduncles minutely bracteate; cypselae columnar (tapering slightly proximally), 5-ribbed
Prenanthella
64. Stems glabrous; leaves cauline (opposite proximally), blades linear, margins entire; peduncles ebracteate; cypselae subcylindric (apices abruptly constricted), 10-ribbed
Shinnersoseris
65. Heads (usually nodding) in racemiform, thyrsiform, corymbiform, or paniculiform arrays; corollas usually white to pink or lavender, rarely yellow
Prenanthes
65. Heads (erect) usually borne singly (sometimes in ± corymbiform to paniculiform arrays); corollas usually bluish, pink to lavender, or rose, rarely white
→ 66
66. Leaves oblong, elliptic, or ovate to lanceolate or linear; phyllaries 8–13+ in 1–2 series; florets (1–)15–50+; cypselae compressed, lanceoloid
Mulgedium
66. Leaves linear to oblong (distal sometimes bractlike or subulate distally); phyllaries 3–10 in ± 1 series; florets 3–16; cypselae not compressed, columnar
→ 67
67. Stems rigid, spine-tipped (thorny); leaves cauline, entire; phyllaries 3–5; florets 3–5
Pleiacanthus
67. Stems not spine-tipped; leaves basal and cauline, entire, dentate, or pinnately lobed; phyllaries 4–10; florets (4–)5–16
→ 68
68. Cypselae subcylindric, subterete, angled, or sulcate; pappus bristles barbellate
Lygodesmia
68. Cypselae columnar, 5-angled; pappus bristles (wholly or partly) plumose
Stephanomeria
Source FNA vol. 19, p. 298. FNA vol. 19, p. 214.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Cichorieae > Hypochaeris Asteraceae
Sibling taxa
H. glabra, H. microcephala, H. radicata
Subordinate taxa
Agoseris, Anisocoma, Arnoseris, Atrichoseris, Calycoseris, Chaetadelpha, Chondrilla, Cichorium, Crepis, Glyptopleura, Hedypnois, Helminthotheca, Hieracium, Hypochaeris, Ixeris, Krigia, Lactuca, Lapsana, Lapsanastrum, Launaea, Leontodon, Lygodesmia, Malacothrix, Microseris, Mulgedium, Munzothamnus, Mycelis, Nothocalaïs, Phalacroseris, Picris, Pinaropappus, Pleiacanthus, Prenanthella, Prenanthes, Pyrrhopappus, Rafinesquia, Rhagadiolus, Scolymus, Scorzonera, Shinnersoseris, Sonchus, Stebbinsoseris, Stephanomeria, Taraxacum, Tolpis, Tragopogon, Uropappus, Urospermum, Youngia
Synonyms Apargia chillensis, Achyrophorus chillensis, H. brasiliensis, Porcellites brasiliensis tribe Lactuceae
Name authority (Kunth) Britton: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 19: 371. (1892) Lamarck & de Candolle: Syn. Pl. Fl. Gall., 255. (1806)
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