Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 810 (1753).

Derivation: Greek hypochoiris, a name used by Theophrastus for H. radicata; hypo, under, lesser; choiros, pig, perhaps as the roots were eaten by pigs.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Catsears, flatweeds.

Description:
Annual and perennial herbs with a tap root; vestiture of simple non-glandular hairs; leaves forming a basal rosette, dentate or pinnatifid, flat.

Capitula solitary or few on erect scapes, homogamous; involucre cylindrical, 3-5-seriate; bracts herbaceous, imbricate, lanceplate to linear, the 2 inner series subequal, the outer series shorter; receptacle flat, with acuminate scarious caducous scales exceeding the achenes; florets all bisexual, fertile, ligulate; ligules linear to oblong, yellow; corolla tube cylindrical, pubescent near the apex; anthers sagittate at the base, with minute apical appendages; style branches linear, subterete, with densely papillose apices.

Achenes terete, straight, denticulate-ribbed, all fusiform and tapering into long fillform beaks, or the outermost series narrowly obconic and truncate; pappus 2-seriate, persistent, the outer series of bristles barbellate, the inner series fewer, longer and plumose.

Distribution:  About 100 species in Europe, south-western Asia, northern Africa and South America; the genus is in need of revision.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Annual; capitula 4-16 mm diam., with ligules hardly exceeding the involucre; outermost achenes beakless	H. glabra 1.
1. Perennial; capitula 20-30 mm diam., with ligules far exceeding the involucre; achenes usually all filiform-beaked	H. radicata 2.

Author: Not yet available