Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Tapertip Hawksbeard
Crepis acuminata
Aster family (Asteraceae)

The Hawksbeards belong to that class of Sunflower that have only and herbage with milky juice. The branching top and small flower heads distinguish this species from it's sister species. "Acuminata" means "tapering to a long point." Hawksbeards are very palatable to domestic sheep and are often overgrazed where sheep are present.


©2009 Matt Lavin

Description

Up to 3 feet tall, with upright stems, branching at the top. Leaves are slightly to moderately hairy, the lower ones up to 15" long, , the and portion of the leaf tapering to a long point. Leaves higher on the stem are much smaller and have few . The 20-75 flower heads are narrow, 1/2" high and 1/4" wide, and cylindrical in shape - especially before they open. The flowers are yellow, with less than an 1" across, each flower head containing only 5-10 , and no flowers.

Field Marks

Sunflower family plant with multiply branched stems topped with small yellow flowers and leaves with long, tapering tips and .

© Al Schneider

corolla -- The name for all the petals of a flower taken together.

lobe -- A rounded parts of a leaf (or other organ).

disc flowers are those in the center of a sunflower or daisy. Not a ray flower.

ray flowers -- The outer petals of a sunflower or daisy are ray flowers.

terminal -- Located at the end (the tip or the apex).

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

pinnately lobed -- Having lobes pinnately arranged on the central axis.