The flower-stem springs from a rosette of foot-leaves; it grows from 1 to 2 feet high, bears but one leaf midway, and is smooth and shining. Of a light green color, with flecks of crimson at the leaf, and near the foot.
The foot-leaf is large (from 1 to 3 inches long), a long oval with a pointed tip, the midrib is wide, flat, and hairy, the prolonged base, or short stem, is partly clasping; the margin is entire and fringed with gray hairs, the texture is leathery. In color a dull light green, while the edge, ribs, and underside are red-purple. The single leaf on the flower-stem is long, narrow, and smooth; of a dull green color.
The flower is like a ribbon (or “strap-shaped”) with a finely notched tip; of fine texture, and smooth. The color is a bright Dandelion yellow. 20 or more of these flowers are arranged in a spreading head, enclosed in a leafy light green cup, whose tips are tawny-red. The heads are set on long, slender stems, which fork from the main stem, with a tiny leaf sitting at the point of junction.
This jaunty plant, though found in the open, likes also the shade, where yet it never fails to swing its yellow heads out towards the sunshine. Sometimes the foot-leaves are wanting, and the flower-stem rises from the bare ground.
EARLY HAWKWEED: Hieracium venosum.
| Canada Hawkweed. | Hieracium Canadense. |
Found, during August and September, growing along roads and thickets in dry shade.
The stalk, which grows to 2 or 3 feet high, is simple at first, but branches above, and is leafy; it is round, hard-fibred, smooth—but downy near the flowers. In color a light green, pale near the foot.
The leaf is a long lance shape, pointed at the tip and broad at the base, with a prominent strong midrib, the margin sparingly and sharply toothed; of a firm texture, and smooth. The color is a medium green, silvery underneath, the midrib light. It is set close upon the stalk, slightly clasping it; the arrangement is alternate. The length of the lowest leaves (sometimes 4 inches) decreases gradually, to that of a tiny thread at the spring of the flower-stems.