180 FARM WEEDS OF CANADA 



KING DEVIL (Hieracium praealtum Gochnat var. decipiens Koch.) 



Introduced from Europe. Perennial, with the general 

 characteristics of the hawkweeds. It bears few leaves, nearly 

 all at the base, and numerous slender, leafy branches running 

 on the surface of the ground. The whole plant is sparsely 

 hairy and lightly covered with a fine bloom. Basal leaves 

 narrow, the long flower stalk bristly hairy, supporting a spreading 

 corymb of yellow flowers. 



The seed is similar to that of the other varieties of hawk- 

 weeds, a little smaller, black. 



Propagation: By runners and seeds which are distributed 

 by the wind. 



Occurrence: In the eastern provinces, abundant in south- 

 western New Brunswick, where it is a pest in pasture lands 

 and old meadows. 



Injury: A pernicious weed in pastures. Like the other 

 hawkweeds, it is avoided by stock on account of its pungent 

 flavour and hairy nature. When present in any quantity, it 

 entails much waste of forage or fodder. 



Remedy: Grass lands infested with King Devil should be 

 brought under cultivation and a short rotation of crops. It 

 does not long give serious trouble in fields under a rotation 

 of crops that requires frequent plowing. In rocky pastures this 

 pest may be treated the same as Orange Hawkweed. 



Most of our hawkweeds are of relatively recent introduction 

 and many varieties have not yet been exactly located and 

 described. Their identity may occasionally prove difficult, 

 as there seem to be variations in the characters of some varieties. 



The seeds of the different varieties are practically indistin- 

 guishable. They sometimes occur in grass seeds and are a 

 dangerous impurity. The method of eradication is the same for 

 all and consists mainly of a short rotation, with seeding down to 

 clover and grass at short intervals. 



