Now it’s Cat’s Ear

25th January 2013

We’ll keep to the same family today, in fact it is a very close relative of yesterday’s Dandelion it is Smooth Cat’s Ear Hypochoeris glabra. 

There are quite a few Dandelion like plants which all look very similar and all have yellow Dandelion like composite flowers.  They include several species of Cat’s-ears, Hawkbits and Hawk’s Beards and it can be quite a struggle to identify the exact species, especially for a beginner.

The Smooth Cat’s-ear pictured has hairless,  glossy leaves which can have a reddish brown tinge on the edges (look at the leaf in the 6 o’clock position).  However they are all  edible and interchangeable with Dandelions