Hypochaeris microcephala
Hypochaeris radicata
smallhead cat's ear
false dandelion, hairy cat's-ear, rough cat's-ear
(1–15) erect, usually branched (2–3 times at midstem and distally, sparsely bracteate or naked), glabrous or coarsely hirsute proximally.
all basal;
blades oblanceolate, lyrate to slightly runcinate, 50-–350 × 5–30 mm, margins coarsely dentate to pinnatifid, faces ± hirsute (hairs coarse, spreading).
cylindric or campanulate, 10–25 × 10–20 mm.
10–15 mm, surpassing phyllaries at flowering;
corollas bright yellow or grayish green.
20–30, narrowly lanceolate, 3–20 mm, unequal, margins scarious, green to darkened, faces glabrous or sparsely hirsute medially.
usually 2–7 in loose arrays, sometimes borne singly.
monomorphic, all beaked, beaks 3–5 mm;
bodies golden brown, fusiform, 6–10 mm, ribs 10–12, muricate;
pappi of whitish bristles in 2 series, outer barbellate, shorter than plumose inner, longest 10–12 mm.
= 8.
Hypochaeris microcephala
Hypochaeris radicata
Varieties 2 (1 in the flora).
Hypochaeris microcephala is distinguished by the perennial habit, presence of cauline leaves, relatively small heads, and white corollas. It is most similar to H. chillensis; it usually has smaller heads with fewer florets and glabrous phyllaries.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Hypochaeris radicata is recognized by the coarse, perennial habit, stout roots, coarsely hirsute leaves and phyllaries, yellow corollas, and monomorphic, beaked cypselae. It is weedy and invasive in some areas.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
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PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. 
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