Crepis modocensis
Modoc hawksbeard
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Crepis modocensis (Modoc hawksbeard) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family.
Modoc hawksbeard is a California native perennial herb found in rocky or open areas at moderate elevations. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pale yellow to white flowers in small clusters of 1 to 9 heads, each head approximately 1.1 to 2.1 centimeters long. Growing with slender to stout erect stems 5 to 35 centimeters tall, it emerges from a branched taproot with distinctively hairy stems ranging from yellow to white. Its basal and stem leaves are deeply pinnately lobed, with lanceolate segments that have sharp mucronate teeth, covered in a mixture of black, white, and green bristly hairs. The fruit is cylindrical to fusiform, ranging from dark green to deep red or dark brown, with a tapered or beaked tip and a dusky white pappus.
How to tell it apart
vs Hypochaeris: Hypochaeris has mostly leafless stems with tiny bracts; Crepis has well-developed leaves up the stem.; vs Taraxacum: Taraxacum has all leaves basal with leafless stems; Crepis has leaves ascending the branched stem.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris has leafless flower stems from basal rosettes; Crepis has leafy branched stems.; vs Sonchus: Sonchus has clasping stem leaves with spiny margins; Crepis leaves are typically not clasping or spiny.; vs Helminthotheca: Helminthotheca has bristly leaves and bracts; Crepis typically lacks the dense bristly covering.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crepis modocensis native to California?
Yes. Crepis modocensis is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Crepis modocensis belong to?
Crepis modocensis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Crepis.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.