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Autumn Hawkbit

Leontodon autumnalis

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Plant Profile
Similar Species
Other Information
Distribution Map

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Order:

Asterales

Family:

Asteraceae (Daisy)

Also in this family:

Alpine Blue Sow-thistle, Alpine Cotula, Alpine Fleabane, Alpine Saw-wort, Annual Ragweed, Annual Sunflower, Argentine Fleabane, Autumn Oxeye, Beaked Hawksbeard, Beggarticks, Bilbao Fleabane, Black Knapweed, Black-eyed Susan, Blanketflower, Blue Fleabane, Blue Globe-thistle, Bristly Oxtongue, Broad-leaved Cudweed, Broad-leaved Ragwort, Brown Knapweed, Butterbur, Buttonweed, Cabbage Thistle, Canadian Fleabane, Canadian Goldenrod, Carline Thistle, Chalk Knapweed, Chamois Ragwort, Changing Michaelmas Daisy, Chicory, Chinese Mugwort, Chinese Ragwort, Coltsfoot, Common Blue Sow-thistle, Common Cat's-ear, Common Cudweed, Common Daisy, Common Dandelion, Common Fleabane, Common Goldenrod, Common Groundsel, Common Michaelmas Daisy, Common Mugwort, Common Ragwort, Common Wormwood, Coneflower, Confused Michaelmas Daisy, Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Cornflower, Cotton Thistle, Cottonweed, Creeping Thistle, Daisy Bush, Dwarf Cudweed, Dwarf Thistle, Early Goldenrod, Eastern Groundsel, Eastern Leopardsbane, Elecampane, English Hawkweed, Fen Ragwort, Feverfew, Field Fleawort, Field Wormwood, Fox and Cubs, French Tarragon, Gallant Soldier, Garden Lettuce, Giant Butterbur, Glabrous-headed Hawkweed, Glandular Globe-thistle, Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy, Globe Artichoke, Globe-thistle, Goat's Beard, Golden Ragwort, Golden Samphire, Goldilocks Aster, Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Great Lettuce, Greater Burdock, Greater Knapweed, Grey-headed Hawkweed, Guernsey Fleabane, Hairless Blue Sow-thistle, Hairless Leptinella, Hairy Michaelmas Daisy, Harpur Crewe's Leopardsbane, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Heath Cudweed, Heath Groundsel, Hemp Agrimony, Highland Cudweed, Hoary Mugwort, Hoary Ragwort, Hybrid Knapweed, Intermediate Burdock, Irish Fleabane, Jersey Cudweed, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lance-leaved Hawkweed, Lavender-cotton, Leafless Hawksbeard, Least Lettuce, Leopardplant, Leopardsbane, Leptinella, Lesser Burdock, Lesser Hawkbit, Lesser Sunflower, London Bur-marigold, Magellan Ragwort, Marsh Cudweed, Marsh Hawksbeard, Marsh Ragwort, Marsh Sow-thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Mexican Fleabane, Milk Thistle, Mountain Everlasting, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Musk Thistle, Narrow-leaved Cudweed, Narrow-leaved Hawkweed, Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisy, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, New England Hawkweed, New Zealand Holly, Nipplewort, Nodding Bur-marigold, Northern Hawksbeard, Norwegian Mugwort, Oxeye Daisy, Oxford Ragwort, Pearly Everlasting, Perennial Cornflower, Perennial Ragweed, Perennial Sow-thistle, Perennial Sunflower, Pineapple Mayweed, Plantain-leaved Leopardsbane, Ploughman's Spikenard, Plymouth Thistle, Pontic Blue Sow-thistle, Pot Marigold, Prickly Lettuce, Prickly Sow-thistle, Purple Coltsfoot, Rayed Tansy, Red Star Thistle, Red-seeded Dandelion, Red-tipped Cudweed, Robin's Plantain, Roman Chamomile, Rough Cocklebur, Rough Hawkbit, Rough Hawksbeard, Russian Lettuce, Safflower, Salsify, Saw-wort, Scented Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Aster, Sea Mayweed, Sea Wormwood, Seaside Daisy, Shaggy Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shaggy Soldier, Shasta Daisy, Shetland Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shrub Ragwort, Sicilian Chamomile, Silver Ragwort, Slender Mugwort, Slender Thistle, Small Cudweed, Small Fleabane, Smooth Cat's-ear, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sow-thistle, Sneezeweed, Sneezewort, Spear Thistle, Spotted Cat's-ear, Spotted Hawkweed, Sticky Groundsel, Stinking Chamomile, Stinking Hawksbeard, Tall Fleabane, Tall Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Tansy, Thin-leaved Sunflower, Trifid Bur-marigold, Tuberous Thistle, Tyneside Leopardplant, Viper's Grass, Wall Lettuce, Welsh Groundsel, Welted Thistle, White Butterbur, White Buttons, Willdenow's Leopardsbane, Winter Heliotrope, Wood Burdock, Wood Ragwort, Woody Fleabane, Woolly Thistle, Yarrow, Yellow Chamomile, Yellow Fox and Cubs, Yellow Oxeye, Yellow Star Thistle, Yellow Thistle, York Groundsel

Type:

Flower

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Maximum Size:

40 centimetres tall

Habitats:

Fields, gardens, grassland, lawns, meadows, mountains, roadsides, rocky places, sand dunes, towns, walls, wasteland.

Flower:

Yellow, many petals

Small yellow dandelion-like flowers, similar to Common Cat's-ear but flowers being smaller and without the scale-like bracts at the top of the stem. Flowers up to 3.5cm.

Fruit:

Glossy brown achene with feathery white hairs. Not beaked.

Leaves:

Dandelion-like leaves in a basal rosette. The long, narrow leaf lobes are distinctively sharp-tipped.

Other Names:

Fall Dandelion, Shepherd's Clock.

Frequency (UK):

Common

Common Cat's-ear

Lesser Hawkbit

Rough Hawkbit

Summary

Leontodon autumnalis, also known as fall dandelion, is a species of perennial herb in the Asteraceae family. It is native to Europe and North Africa and is typically found in grassland habitats such as meadows, pastures, and roadsides. It has a rosette of basal leaves and produces a tall stem with small, yellow composite flowers that bloom in late summer to fall. The flowers are arranged in a dense, cylindrical head, and the fruit is an achene. The plant is hardy and easy to grow, it can tolerate poor soils and dry conditions. It is not commonly cultivated, but it is sometimes used as an ornamental plant or as a medicinal herb. The plant is known to have medicinal properties and has been used in traditional medicine as a diuretic, laxative, and to treat skin diseases.

Blog

Autumn Hawkbit, also known by its scientific name Leontodon autumnalis, is a flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. This plant is native to Europe and western Asia and has been naturalized in North America, where it is commonly found growing in fields, meadows, and along roadsides. Autumn Hawkbit is a hardy plant that thrives in a range of habitats, from dry and rocky soils to moist and rich ones.

Autumn Hawkbit is a herbaceous perennial that grows up to 40 centimeters in height. It has a rosette of leaves at its base, which are lanceolate in shape and deeply toothed. The stem of the plant is long and slender, and it bears a single yellow flower at its apex. The flower has several yellow ray florets and a central disk of small, tubular flowers. The bloom period of Autumn Hawkbit lasts from late spring through the fall, with peak flowering occurring in mid-summer.

One of the most interesting features of Autumn Hawkbit is its seed dispersal mechanism. The plant produces achenes, which are small, dry fruits that contain a single seed. When the seed is mature, the stem of the plant bends over and touches the ground, allowing the achenes to detach and fall to the soil. This ensures that the seeds are dispersed over a wide area, increasing the chances of successful germination and growth.

Autumn Hawkbit has a long history of medicinal use in Europe. The plant was traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive problems, respiratory infections, and skin conditions. It was also believed to have diuretic and detoxifying properties, making it useful in the treatment of kidney and liver disorders.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Autumn Hawkbit is also an important food source for many species of insects and birds. The plant provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while the seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.

Autumn Hawkbit is also known for its cultural significance in some regions of Europe. In the United Kingdom, the plant is often referred to as "Shepherd's Clock," as the blooming of the flowers is said to signal the time when shepherds should move their flocks to higher pastures for the summer. In France, the plant is called "Leontodon d'automne," and its yellow flowers are used to create a yellow dye for textiles.

While Autumn Hawkbit is a hardy plant that can adapt to many different environments, it is considered to be invasive in some parts of North America. It is important to be cautious when planting this species, as it has the potential to outcompete native plants and disrupt local ecosystems.

If you are interested in growing Autumn Hawkbit in your garden, it is important to ensure that you are using seed stock from a reputable source and planting it in an appropriate location. The plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and can be propagated by seed or division.

Autumn Hawkbit is a valuable plant in terms of its ecological role as well. The plant's deep root system helps to improve soil quality by increasing soil aeration and nutrient availability. It also helps to prevent soil erosion by stabilizing soil with its roots.

In addition to its ecological benefits, Autumn Hawkbit is a plant with a rich cultural history. In many traditional societies, the plant was believed to have magical and spiritual properties. It was often used in rituals and ceremonies, and was believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

Today, Autumn Hawkbit is still used in some herbal remedies and is considered to be a beneficial plant for supporting overall health and wellness. It is said to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and is often used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and acne.

Whether you are interested in the ecological benefits, cultural history, or medicinal properties of Autumn Hawkbit, there is no denying that this plant is a fascinating and important species. By learning more about Autumn Hawkbit and its many uses, we can better appreciate the unique and valuable role that plants play in our world.

Facts about Autumn Hawkbit

Autumn Hawkbit is a hardy plant that thrives in a range of habitats, from dry and rocky soils to moist and rich ones.
The plant produces achenes, which are small, dry fruits that contain a single seed. When the seed is mature, the stem of the plant bends over and touches the ground, allowing the achenes to detach and fall to the soil.
Autumn Hawkbit has a long history of medicinal use in Europe. The plant was traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive problems, respiratory infections, and skin conditions.
The plant provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while the seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
In the United Kingdom, the plant is often referred to as "Shepherd's Clock," as the blooming of the flowers is said to signal the time when shepherds should move their flocks to higher pastures for the summer.

Autumn Hawkbit, also known as Leontodon autumnalis, is a hardy plant that thrives in a range of habitats and has a unique seed dispersal mechanism. The plant has a long history of medicinal use in Europe and is also an important food source for many species of insects and birds. The blooming of its flowers is said to signal the time when shepherds should move their flocks to higher pastures for the summer in the United Kingdom. Autumn Hawkbit is a valuable plant in terms of its ecological role, cultural history, and medicinal properties. However, it is important to be cautious when planting this species, as it has the potential to outcompete native plants and disrupt local ecosystems.