THE SUNFLOWER FAMILY 179 



of 18 to 20 pounds to the square rod. Infested rocky pastures 

 may be improved by sowing vigorous grasses that are better able 

 to choke out hawkweed than the finer native species. 



ALLIED SPECIES: Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Hieracium 

 Pilosella L.) has been introduced into Prince Edward Island 

 and has taken almost entire possession of some fields and ex- 

 tensive areas along the roadsides. It is an even worse pest than 

 the species mentioned above, as it produces long, running, 

 leafy stems on the surface of the ground, from which tufts of 

 roots and side shoots grow at short intervals, the latter being 

 densely clothed with clusters of leaves, which are smooth above, 

 except for some inconspicuous long white bristles, and covered 

 beneath with a thick felt of star-shaped hairs. The flower 

 heads are solitary, on slender stalks, pale yellow, over an inch 

 across and sweetly scented. The seed is a little longer than 

 that of Orange Hawkweed. 



According to Dr. N. L. Britton (Flora of the Northern 

 States and Canada, 1901), the Prince Edward Island Mouse-ear 

 Hawkweed is the va,Tiety Peleterianum Mer., of HiercLcium Pilosella. 

 The typical form of the species is found occasionally in the other 

 provinces, having been introduced with European grass seeds. 



Branching Hawkweed {Hieracium cladanthum Arvet-Touve, 

 MS.) is a persistent perennial occuring in hay meadows and 

 pastures in parts of Quebec and in many places in New Bruns- 

 wick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It is a pernicious 

 and aggressive weed, closely resembling Orange Hawkweed, 

 but having more numerous and rather smaller, pale yellow 

 flowers, narrow and longer leaves, and, in strong plants, tall, 

 flowering stems, sometimes 3 feet high, bearing a large, irregular 

 cluster of flower heads. The lowest branches start below the 

 middle of the stem, but are much elongated and raise their 

 clusters almost as high as those of the upper branches. On 

 weak plants, such as grow in hay fields, this branching habit 

 is less conspicuous and the form more nearly resembles that of 

 Orange Hawkweed. 



