Hypochoeris radicata L., Sp. Pl. 810. 1753.

Herbs, perennial; stems 15 - 60 cm or more high, simple or branched, glabrous, with scattered scales. Leaves oblanceolate, sinuate-dentate or runcinate-pinnatifid, 5 - 12 x 0.5 - 1.5 cm, with lateral segments, pubescent. Heads campanulate, solitary, 5 - 6 mm broad. Involucral bracts 3 - 5 seriate, imbricate; outer ovate-lanceolate, 3 - 4 mm long; inner lanceolate, 10 - 12 mm long, glabrous or pilose along the midrib. Style slender; stigmatic branches slender. Achenes brown, oblong-linear, 3 - 4 mm long. Pappus creamy or dirty white, 2-seriate, 8 mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Dec. - July

Distrib. India: Himalayas, E. & W. ghats, in moist grassy slopes and meadows. 1500-4000 m. Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lanka, Europe, N.W. Africa and Turkey.

Notes. Perhaps of European origin but now occurs in temperate and cool regions.