2. Crepis pulchra L. (small-flowered hawksbeard)
Pl. 255 a, b;
Map 1063
Plants annual.
Stems 10–100 cm long, erect or ascending, usually unbranched below the
inflorescence, sticky, moderately to densely pubescent with gland-tipped hairs,
more or less glabrous toward the tip. Basal leaves 2–20 cm long, mostly
short-petiolate, the blade coarsely toothed to irregularly pinnately lobed, the
lobes spreading, narrow to broad, sharply triangular, the surfaces and margins
moderately to densely pubescent with gland-tipped hairs. Inflorescences usually
appearing paniculate, less commonly the heads appearing in loose clusters at
the branch tips. Inner series of involucral bracts 10–14, 8–12 mm long,
developing a prominent, bluntly keeled midrib (at least toward the base) at
fruiting, glabrous on both surfaces, the outer series of bracts much shorter
than the inner series. Receptacle glabrous. Ligulate florets 15–30, the corolla
5–12 mm long. Pappus 4–5 mm long. Fruits somewhat dimorphic, the inner ones 4–5
mm long, the outer ones 5–6 mm long, more or less cylindrical, not beaked at
the tip, 10(–12)-ribbed, the inner fruits with the ribs usually smooth, the
outer fruits with the ribs usually minutely roughened or barbed, yellowish
brown to light brown. 2n=8. May–July.
Introduced,
uncommon in St. Charles and St. Louis Counties and the city of St. Louis
(native of Europe, Asia; introduced sporadically in the eastern half of the
U.S., Oregon, Canada). Railroads, roadsides, and open, disturbed areas.