Smooth cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris glabra, Sp. Pl.: 811 (1753))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 811 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Hypochaeris

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, Europe to Medit. and Arabian Pen.

Description

Smooth cat’s-ear, scientifically known as Hypochaeris glabra, is a notable species within the diverse Asteraceae family. Originally described in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum,” this plant has garnered attention for its distinct characteristics and widespread distribution.

This species thrives in a variety of regions, including the unique ecosystems of Macaronesia, and spans across Europe extending to the Mediterranean and Arabian Peninsula. Its adaptability to different climates and soils underscores its ecological versatility.

The smooth cat’s-ear is often recognized by its low-growing rosette of bright green leaves and dandelion-like flowers that bear a close resemblance to those of its relative, the common dandelion, although with some distinct differences. Unlike its dandelion counterpart, the smooth cat’s-ear’s leaves and stems are generally less hairy, contributing to its name. The flower heads consist of numerous yellow florets that bloom primarily during the warmer months, attracting a variety of pollinators.

In addition to its aesthetic and ecological presence, smooth cat’s-ear is also of interest to botanists and plant enthusiasts for its role in natural habitats. It can often be found in disturbed areas such as roadsides, grasslands, and vacant lots where it contributes to the local biodiversity. Understanding species like Hypochaeris glabra is essential for appreciating the complexity and interconnectivity of native and introduced plant communities.

Common Names

Ita: costolina liscia
Eng: flatweed, glabrous catsear, smooth cat’s-ear, smooth catsear, smooth cat’s ear, false dandelion, glabrous cat’s-ear, small capeweed, smooth flatweed
Dan: glat kongepen
Jpn: hime-butana
Sqi: hipoker i shogët
Deu: kahles ferkelkraut, sand-ferkelkraut, sandferkelkraut, kahles fergelkraut
Fin: kaljuhäränsilmä
Spa: lechuguilla de cochino
Fra: porcelle des sables, porcelle glabre
Ces: prasetník lysý
Pol: prosienicznik gładki
Nld: glad biggenkruid
Swe: åkerfibbla
Nor: åkergrisøyre
Bul: късоцветен хипохерис
Heb: הִיפּוֹכֵרִיס קֵרֵחַ, היפוכריס קירח
Ara: هيبُشَريس أَمْرَد, هَوْدَلَة
Cym: melynydd esmwydd y twynau, melynydd esmwyth, melynydd moel, melynydd y morlan
En: Smooth cat’s-ear, Smooth flatweed, False dandelion, Small Capeweed, Glabrous cat’s-ear, Smooth cat’s ear, Flatweed, Glabrous Catsear, Smooth Catsear
Sq: Hipoker i shogët
Ar: هيبُشَريس أَمْرَد, هَوْدَلَة
Be: Гіпахерыс голы
Bg: Късоцветен хипохерис
Ca: Hipoqueris glabra
Zh: 光貓兒菊
Cs: Prasetník lysý
Da: Glat Kongepen
Nl: Glad biggenkruid, Glad Biggekruid
Fi: Kaljuhäränsilmä
Fr: Porcelle des sables, Porcelle glabre, Porcelle enracinée
De: Kahles Fergelkraut, Kahles Ferkelkraut, Sand-Ferkelkraut, Sandferkelkraut
He: הִיפּוֹכֵרִיס קֵרֵחַ, היפוכריס קירח
Ga: Cluas chait mhín
It: Costolina liscia, Costolina glabra
Ja: Hime-butana
No: Åkergrisøyre
Pl: Prosienicznik gładki
Es: Lechuguilla de cochino, Lechugas de cerdo
Sv: Åkerfibbla
Zh-tw: 光貓兒菊
Cy: Melynydd moel, Melynydd Esmwydd y Twynau, Melynydd Esmwyth, Melynydd y Morlan

Synonyms

• Hypochaeris hispida (Roth)
• Scorzonera nova (Desf. ex Walp.)
• Hypochaeris heterosperma (Schult. ex Sch.Bip.)
• Hypochaeris hirsuta (DC.)
• Hypochaeris thracica (Steven ex DC.)
• Hypochaeris simplex (Mérat)
• Hypochaeris glabra var. rostrata (Coss. & Germ.)
• Hypochaeris radicata subsp. glabra ((L.) Mateo & Figuerola)
• Hypochaeris glabra var. isocarpa (Bisch.)
• Cycnoseris australis (Endl.)
• Achyrophorus minimus (Hornem.)
• Hyoseris pusilla (Regel)
• Achyrophorus balbisii (Hornem.)
• Hypochaeris pusilla (Poir.)
• Hypochaeris glabra subsp. minima ((Cirillo) Arcang.)
• Hypochaeris pumila (Phil.)
• Hypochaeris glabra var. erostris (Coss. & Germ.)
• Scorzonera taraxacifolium (Jacq.)
• Hypochaeris adscendens (Brot.)
• Hypochaeris ascendens (Walp.)
• Hypochaeris contexta (Wallr.)
• Hypochaeris glabra var. loiseleuriana (Godr.)
• Hypochaeris arachnoidea (DC.)
• Hypochaeris intertexta (Peterm.)
• Hypochaeris montana (Hill)
• Hypochaeris intermedia (Richt. ex Rchb.)
• Hypochaeris arachnites (Link)
• Hypochaeris capensis (Less.)
• Hypochaeris candollei (Regel)
• Hypochaeris bartholdii (Willd. ex Sch.Bip.)
• Hypochaeris stellata (Gaterau)
• Podospermum taraxacifolium (Sweet)
• Hypochaeris dimorpha (Brot.)
• Hyoseris tenella (Thunb.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Norway (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Mar 19, 2022 by Laurent Trinco (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2021 by pia walters (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 23, 2021 by Matteo Marsullo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 23, 2021 by Matteo Marsullo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 8, 2020 by Elise Tinel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 26, 2021 by mag san (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 15, 2022 by Alexandre Labbe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Errol Vela (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2020 by anja hurtzig (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2021 by Boumlik Messaïli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Apr 4, 2022 by Diego Alex (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2020 by anja hurtzig (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2022 by andrea ombra cattai (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2020 by faiou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 10, 2020 by Julius Seelbach (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2020 by Antoine le Clercq (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2021 by Maxime Lefevre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 9, 2011 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 19, 2021 by Syr Asd (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2020 by Birgitta Tittel (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2020 by Maria Linardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 24, 2022 by Kilhiann Bagur (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Apr 15, 2017 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jul 21, 1853 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 5, 2022 by Sergio costantini (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2003 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3093911)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:225504-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Hypochaeris glabra L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth