Description: Annual to perennial taprooted herbs; with 2-hooked rigid non-glandular hairs and/or unhooked spines, bases not enlarged; stems terete, usually solitary, branched above.
Leaves basal and cauline, alternate, flat, margins ± toothed to pinnatisect.
Heads in loose terminal corymbs, few to numerous, cylindrical; involucral bracts herbaceous, ovate to linear, in many rows, ± equal, graduated or outer much smaller; receptacle flat, naked, pitted. Florets all ligulate, numerous, bisexual, fertile; ligule linear. Anthers sagittate at base, apical appendage minute.
Achenes terete, usually ribbed, transversely wrinkled, tapered at apex; pappus of plumose bristles, in 1 row, with a few shorter outer barbellate bristles.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 60 species, Europe, Asia, Africa & Australia. Australia: c. 10–15 species (1 species naturalized), all States except N.T.
Text by L. Murray & E. A. Brown
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Picris altissima,
Picris angustifolia,
Picris barbarorum,
Picris eichleri,
Picris squarrosa
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Involucral bracts with long-ciliate hairs along midrib | Picris evae |
| Involucral bracts minutely hairy | Picris hieracioides |
|
