Hawkweeds

Hawkweeds, the popular name for the numerous and puzzlingly similar species of the genus Hieraciuin, belonging to the ligulifloral sub-order of the Compositee, which have mostly yellow dandelion-like flowers, and are natives of the temperate region of the Old World. They have a brownish brittle sessile pappus. The name is said to be derived from the ancient belief that hawks used the milky juice of these plants to strengthen their sight. The ornamental orange-flowered H. aurantiacnm is known as "Grim the Collier" from the black hairs on the involucre.