COMPOSITE 



THE LEAVES : alternate ; oblong-lanceolate, ovate-oblong, or 

 lanceolate; above usually hairless, beneath hairless or with 

 short, soft hairs; acute or acuminate at the apex; rounded 

 or somewhat heart-shaped at the base; at least the upper 

 sessile; coarsely toothed or especially cut below the middle; 

 the margins sometimes hairy. 



THE FLOWER HEADS : usually numerous, in modified pani- 

 cles; the involucre with small, short, soft hairs, its bracts 

 overlapping in two or three series, the outer spreading. 



THE FRUIT: achenes; pappus brown. 



To recognize that the Hawkweeds are closely related to 

 the Dandelions is easy, but to distinguish the Hawkweeds 

 one from another is a more difficult task. This is the large, 

 stout one, almost handsome in its vigour, with deep yellow 

 flowers and numerous, lance-shaped leaves, dark green and 

 stout. 



COMPOSITE COMPOSITE FAMILY 



Hieracium marianum, Willd. 



Yellow Hawkweed. 



June-October 



Hieracium: for derivation see canadense. 

 Marianum: Latin for Maryland. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil of the Commons. 



THE PLANT: erect, about one foot high or taller; stems 

 usually solitary, paniculately branched above, slender, 

 with short, silky hairs. 



THE LEAVES: mostly basal but two to several stem leaves; 

 stem leaves obovate or oblong, somewhat upright or lying 

 against the stem; with slightly rough hairs; obtuse at the 

 apex; narrowed at the base; without stem or petioled; may 

 be purple veined or wholly green. 

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