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Hieracium aurantiacum L.

Orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderAsteralesFlowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
FamilyAsteraceaeThe aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
GenusHieraciumFrom Greek hierakion, “a hawk,” from Pliny’s belief that hawks strengthened their eyesight by eating these plants
Speciesaurantiacum“Orange-colored”

About plant names...

Orange hawkweed is native to central and southern Europe, but after its introduction to other areas of the world as an ornamental plant, it has become a bit too widespread in some areas. It is considered an invasive species or noxious weed in several U.S. states, two Canadian provinces, Australia, and New Zealand. Sure is pretty though.

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

Sturm, Johann Georg (Painter: Jacob Sturm), Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen, Nrnberg: Gedruckt auf Kosten des Verfassers, 1796

Identification: Plants are 8-24" (20-60 cm) high. Leaves are mostly at the bottom, spatula-shaped and very fuzzy, up to 5" (12 cm) long. Leaves, stems, and stolons produce a milky latex when broken. Tall fuzzy stems support small clusters of bright orange flowers with paler orange centers, each ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) across. Flower rays have squared off tips that have several serrations. There is only one orange hawkweed (vs. more than a dozen yellow varieties), so these are relatively easy to identify.

This hawkweed comparison table is an aid to identifying hawkweeds and similar-appearing species.

Online References:

Hieracium aurantiacum on luirig.altervista.org

Hieracium aurantiacum on Wikipedia

Hieracium aurantiacum at Minnesota Wildflowers

Hieracium aurantiacum on Fall Wildflowers of New England

Hieracium aurantiacum on Invasive.org, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Hieracium aurantiacum on Wikimedia Commons

Hieracium aurantiacum on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Hieracium aurantiacum on

Hieracium aurantiacum on eFloras

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 136

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 360

Eastman, John; illustrated by Hansen, Amelia, The Book of Field and Roadside: Open-Country Weeds, Trees, and Wildflowers of Eastern North America, Stackpole Books, 2003, p. 157

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 2½ × 2" (6.8 × 5.4 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

8/2/2009 · Gordon & Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine
≈ 3½ × 2½" (8.9 × 7 cm)

Pilosella aurantiaca

 

Hieracium aurantiacum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


  

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

The fuzzy leaves in this jumble are the basal leaves of the orange hawkweed. · 9/29/2012 · Franconia Notch Area, New Hamp­shire
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 13 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 2½ × 3" (6.8 × 8.1 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

9/29/2012 · Franconia Notch Area, New Hamp­shire
≈ 3½ × 3" (9.2 × 7.9 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 3 × 3" (7.6 × 8.1 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

8/2/2009 · Gordon & Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine
≈ 3 × 2½" (8.4 × 7 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

8/2/2009 · Gordon & Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine
≈ 3½ × 2½" (9.2 × 7.1 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

10/10/2008 · Lincoln, New Hamp­shire
≈ 2½ × 3" (6.9 × 8.4 cm)

Hieracium aurantiacum (orange hawkweed, devil’s paintbrush, fox-and-cubs, tawny hawkweed, grim-the-collier)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 2 × 3" (5.7 × 7.7 cm)

Range:

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