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Species
Hieracium caespitosum Dumort.
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Field Hawkweed is one of several native and non-native hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.) that can be found in Illinois. Like other non-native hawkweeds, this species has primarily basal leaves and very few, if any, cauline leaves. Field Hawkweed can be distinguished from other non-native hawkweeds by its dense cluster of flowerheads and the presence of hair on both sides of its basal leaves. Other non-native hawkweeds have flowerheads that are more widely spread out, or their basal leaves have hairs along the lower side only, or the branches of their inflorescences lack glandular black hairs. One non-native species that is found in Illinois, Hieracium aurantiacum (Orange Hawkweed), can be readily distinguished by its orange flowerheads. Another scientific name of Field Hawkweed is Hieracium pratense. This species is sometimes referred to as 'King Devil' or 'Yellow King Devil.' These are old farmer names that refer to its unwelcome persistence in pastures and agricultural fields.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/fld_hawkweed.html |
More info for the terms: adventitious, cover, prescribed fire, wildfire
Fire adaptations: Meadow hawkweed exhibits some characteristics that make it likely to survive and/or establish after fire. Belowground rhizomes and adventitious root buds likely survive fire. Rhizomes, adventitious root buds, and stolons reportedly sprout after physical disturbance [77,117], suggesting that postfire sprouting is possible. Meadow hawkweed seeds have the potential for long-distance dispersal, though seeds do not seem to persist in the soil seed bank. High-light conditions may favor meadow hawkweed sexual reproduction and vegetative regeneration [17]. Meadow hawkweed may be favored by disturbance (see Successional Status).
Plant response to fire: As of this writing (2010), little information was available regarding meadow hawkweed's response to fire. Meadow hawkweed has been documented in burned areas following both wildfire [2] and prescribed fire [36,66,70]. The scarcity of studies and lack of details about fire characteristics, pre- and postfire vegetation, and meadow hawkweed response limit the inferences that can be made on fire effects on meadow hawkweed.
In Alaska, meadow hawkweed was listed as a nonnative plant species occurring within or adjacent to areas burned during the 2004 fire season [2]. In central New York, meadow hawkweed was infrequent (3.5% frequency) in an old field that had been burned by spring prescribed fire 3 and 5 years prior to sampling [70].
The results of one study suggest that meadow hawkweed may establish on burned sites soon after fire via wind-dispersed seed, though in this case, it did not persist through a subsequent fire. In New Brunswick, a deciduous-coniferous woodlot was clearcut, left untreated for a year, then burned in April for 2 consecutive years to encourage low sweet blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and velvetleaf blueberry (V. myrtilloides) production. June vegetation surveys showed that meadow hawkweed was not present prior to treatments or in the year between clearcutting and burning, but 7 stems were detected 2 months after the 1st fire. The author suggested that meadow hawkweed established via wind-dispersed seed. It was not detected after the 2nd fire [36].
In western Pennsylvania, prescribed fire favored meadow hawkweed growth more than other disturbances. Field experiments were conducted to examine the impact of different disturbances on a 7-year-old goldenrod-serpentine aster (Solidago-Symphyotrichum depauperatum ) plant community. Disturbances included prescribed fire, topsoil removal, and combinations of plowing, planting, and fertilizer or herbicide application. Disturbances occurred in April and vegetation was measured 6 months and 2.5 years after the initial disturbances. Initial vegetation conditions were not reported. Compared to other disturbances, meadow hawkweed cover was highest following prescribed fire. In burned areas, meadow hawkweed cover was >10% 6 months and 2.5 years after fire. In areas where the top 6 inches (15 cm) of topsoil was removed, meadow hawkweed cover was <10% 6 months after treatment, and it was not present 2.5 years after treatment. In areas that had been plowed in the spring, disked, and then planted to corn (Zea mays), meadow hawkweed was not detected 6 months after treatment, and cover was <10% 2.5 years after treatment. It was not detected in areas that had been plowed, disked, and exposed to either fertilizer or herbicides [66].
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1
This perennial wildflower forms a low rosette of basal leaves, from which a flowering stalk develops that is ½-2½' tall. The basal leaves are 2-6" long and ½-1" across; they are oblanceolate or elliptic-oblong in shape, while their margins are smooth and ciliate. The upper surface of the basal leaves is medium green and sparsely hairy, while the lower surface is pale green and hairy. The flowering stalk is pale green, terete, and unbranched; it has white hairs below and glandular black hairs above. Sometimes there are 1-2 alternate leaves along the lower half of its length. The alternate leaves are similar to the basal leaves, except smaller in size. The flowering stalk terminates in a dense cluster of 5-30 flowerheads. Each flowerhead is ½-¾" across, consisting of numerous yellow ray florets and their reproductive organs. Individual petaloid rays are linear-oblong with 5 teeth at their truncate tips. At the base of each flowerhead, are several floral bracts that are medium green and linear-oblong in shape; they have glandular black hairs along their midveins. The branches of the inflorescence are light green, terete, and glandular black-hairy. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer for about 1 month. Afterwards, the florets are replaced by narrowly oblongoid achenes about 1.5-2.0 mm. in length; the truncate upper tips of these achenes have small tufts of white hair. The root system consists of a taproot with either rhizomes or stolons. Occasionally, clonal offsets develop to form small colonies of plants.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/fld_hawkweed.html |
More info for the terms: geophyte, ground residual colonizer, initial off-site colonizer, rhizome, root crown, secondary colonizer
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [97]:
Surface rhizome and/or a chamaephytic root crown in organic soil or on soil surface
Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil
Geophyte, growing points deep in soil
Ground residual colonizer (on site, initial community)
Initial off-site colonizer (off site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer (on- or off-site seed sources)
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 13
Species With Barcodes: 1
The non-native Field Hawkweed is rare in NE Illinois and largely absent from the rest of the state (see Distribution Map). It was introduced into North America from Europe. Habitats include dry sand prairies, upland sandy savannas, sandy pastures, abandoned fields, and waste areas. Sandy areas with a history of disturbance are preferred.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/fld_hawkweed.html |
More info for the term: adventitious
As of this writing (2010), there was no published information on the immediate effects of fire on meadow hawkweed. Meadow hawkweed plants and stolons are likely top-killed by fire; belowground rhizomes and adventitious root buds may survive. As of 2010, no information was available regarding fire effects on or heat tolerance of meadow hawkweed seeds.
Canada
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident