Composite Jfamil^. 



Tawny Hawkweed. Hieracium aurantiacum. 



Fouud in June, in open fields and roadAvays. 



The flower-stem rises from a rosette of foot-leaves ; it bears one or 

 two leaves near the ground, is slender, round, grooved, and hairy. The 

 hairs are dark enough to somewhat obscure the green color of the stem. 



The leaf is long oval, with an irregular margin, and strong midrib ; 

 the texture is coarse, and both upper and under surfaces are covered 

 by long gray hairs. The color is green, with a lighter midrib. One oi' 

 two leaves occur upon the flower-stems, — they ai'e smaller than the 

 others. 



The tip of the slender " strap-shaped " flower is more finely fringed 

 than is usual with the Hawkweeds. lu color an orange-red, or tawny, 

 rather dark in hue, while the pistil is bright yellow. The cup is green, 

 with many dark tawny hairs. The heads are set on short stems in a 

 terminal cluster. 



This is the flower commonly known in England by the folk-name 

 of " Grim the Collier," because of the dark and hairy aspect of its 

 blossoms ; the hairs near the flower-heads are of noticeable length and 

 modify their color perceptibly. It is to be noted that the heads are 

 composed of fewer colors than most of the common Hawkweeds. The 

 plumy seeds are of a yellow-gray color and very pretty. Although the 

 botanical calendar places the flowering time of the Tawny in June, 

 personal observation has only noted it in the autumn ; during middle 

 September it is to be found in full bloom in northern Vermont. 



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