Hieracium umbellatum (Narrow-leaf Hawkweed)

Plant Info
Also known as: Rough Hawkweed, Northern Hawkweed
Genus:Hieracium
Family:Asteraceae (Aster)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; sandy soil; fields, beaches, open woods and woodland edges
Bloom season:June - September
Plant height:1 to 5 feet
Wetland Indicator Status:none
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge):Minnesota county distribution map
National distribution (click map to enlarge):National distribution map

Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower: Flower shape: 7+petals Cluster type: panicle

[photo of flowers] 5 to 30 stalked dandelion-like flowers, ¾ to 1 inch wide in an open or flattened cluster at the top of the stem. Sometimes flowers are single. Flower stalks are covered in fine short hairs, though larger, longer hairs, sometimes black and glandular, can be scattered up onto the bracts. Bracts are narrow, overlapping scales often with the tips spreading out.

Leaves and stems: Leaf attachment: alternate Leaf type: simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are 1 to 5 inches long, ¼ to 1½ inches wide, lance-elliptic, stalkless but not (usually) clasping, pointed at the tip, becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. Around the edges are usually a few widely spaced teeth or tooth-like projections and very short rough hairs; the surface is usually rough textured. Often tinged with red, lower stem may be finely hairy or smooth, waxy in part, hairs becoming short and fine towards the tips.

Fruit: Fruit type: seed with plume

[photo of fruit] Fruit is a dry seed that ripens to black, with a tuft of light brown hair to carry it off in the wind.

Notes:

Widespread in all but the southwest prairie regions, Narrow-leaf Hawkweed was once classified in Minnesota as two separate species, Hieracium kalmii and H. scabriusculum, which are still recognized in other texts and resources, Very similar in appearance all are presently lumped under H. umbellatum in Bell herbarium records. Not to be confused with the several non-native hawkweeds, H. umbellatum has leafier stems up to the flower cluster and the only hawkweed with lance-elliptic leaves with roughly hairy, sharp toothed edges. Sometimes this species also goes by H. canadense, listed as a synonym for H. kalmii, commonly called Canada Hawkweed.

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More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken in Ramsey County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka, Kanabec and Pine counties.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Nancy B - Carleton College Arboretum, Rice County
on: 2016-09-26 14:14:04

Growing in restored prairie on a sandy hilltop. Seed originally collected from a location in Goodhue County. Other species growing in both locations with this plant include: Liatris punctata, Monarda punctata, Solidago nemoralis, Schizachyrium scoparium.

Posted by: Kenny h - Shooting Star Trail West of Rose Creek
on: 2017-07-26 16:50:04

First time photo and I'D on this Hawkweed...thanks to the distribution map, I'm confidant...this plant had a blotchy, spotted stem???...I really like the sawtooth tips of the petals...sure wish we could add photos.

Posted by: Tanya Beyer Hovi - Sandy Township, St. Louis County
on: 2021-07-31 22:06:09

Growing in a gravelly roadside adjoining the wet soil of a marsh

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