Hairy Hawkbit - a weed (*Leontodon saxatilis)

Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family).

Native of Europe.

Occurrence: Widespread and fairly common. However, it could readily be mistaken for one of the other dandelion-flowered daisies.

Identification:

• it has dandelion-like yellow daisy flowers
• the flowering stems are undivided and of uniform thickness
• the leaves are in a basal rosette
• the leaves are lobed; the teeth are more pronounced than those of Cat's Ear
• the leaves are hairy with forked hairs, compared with Cat's Ear with unforked hairs
• the flowering stems are not wider just below the flowers.

It is an environmental weed.

The name Leontodon meaning lion's-tooth, refers to the toothed leaves; saxatilis: dwelling among rocks.