Leontodon saxatilis
Hairy hawkbit, Hairy Hawkbit
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Leontodon saxatilis (Hairy hawkbit) is a non-native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by distinctive fruit dimorphism with outer smooth, inner roughened.
Hairy hawkbit is a naturalized perennial found in disturbed and grassy areas, typically growing in lowland regions. Flowering from spring to early summer, this plant produces yellow flowers in nodding heads approximately 1 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with curved-ascending stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall that are unbranched and minimally branched, it develops a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves are oblanceolate, 2 to 25 centimeters long, covered with stiff bristly hairs that give the plant its characteristic textured appearance. The fruit features an interesting pappus with a crown of short, fringed scales and inner fruit with plumose bristles that aid in wind dispersal.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; distinctive fruit dimorphism with outer smooth, inner roughened
Habitat and range
California counties: Mendocino, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Marin, Shasta, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Del Norte, Santa Cruz, Yuba, Nevada, Humboldt, Amador, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Placer, Trinity, Calaveras, Tehama, Colusa, El Dorado, Merced, Lake
How to tell it apart
vs Hypochaeris: Hypochaeris has stem leaves and branched stems, Leontodon is all basal leaves with unbranched stalks.; vs Agoseris: Agoseris has uniform simple bristles on all seeds, Leontodon has mixed scales and feathery bristles.; vs Taraxacum: Taraxacum has uniform bristles on all seeds, Leontodon has short scales on outer seeds.; vs Crepis: Crepis has branching stems with stem leaves, Leontodon has leafless single-headed stalks.; vs Scorzoneroides: Scorzoneroides has uniform pappus on all seeds, Leontodon has dual pappus types.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leontodon saxatilis native to California?
No. Leontodon saxatilis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
Where in California does Leontodon saxatilis grow?
Leontodon saxatilis occurs in Mendocino, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento, Marin, Shasta, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and other counties.
What plant family does Leontodon saxatilis belong to?
Leontodon saxatilis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Leontodon.
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.