Smooth hawksbeard

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Smooth hawksbeard
• smooth hawksbeard
• Smooth Hawk's-Beard
• green crepis
• smooth hawk’s-beard
• Smooth Hawk's Beard

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hieracioides pinnatifida
• Crepis virens subsp. capillaris
• Crepis virens var. diffusa
• Crepis virens var. linifolia
• Crepis virens proles diffusa
• Crepis virens var. pectinata
• Crepis virens var. agrestis
• Crepis virens var. stricta
• Crepis parviflora
• Crepis pinnatifida
• Berinia stricta
• Crepis bauhiniana
• Lapsana capillaris
• Crepis candollei
• Crepis cooperi
• Crepis gaditana
• Crepis leiosperma
• Crepis linifolia
• Crepis longepinnatifida
• Crepis lusitanica
• Crepis nemorum
• Crepis umbellata
• Crepis uniflora
• Crepis variabilis
• Crepis virens subsp. agrestis
• Crepis corymbosa var. baetica
• Crepis virens var. dentata
• Crepis virens var. runcinata
• Crepis virens var. uniflora
• Crepis virens subvar. uniflora
• Crepis virens subvar. humilis
• Crepis virens var. elatior
• Malacothrix crepoides
• Crepis capillaris var. glandulosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae and order Asterales, it is classified within the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Crepis, specifically as the species Crepis capillaris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range of occurrence across various regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is documented within the borders of Denmark, where it can be found in suitable habitats. It also inhabits the landscapes of Great Britain and the island of Ireland. Moving further north, the species is distributed throughout the territory of Norway. Finally, its geographical reach extends into the country of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crepis capillaris is characterized by a vast adaptive capacity, allowing it to thrive across a diverse range of altitudes and environmental conditions. This species exhibits an expansive elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1800 m AMSL, with a mean elevational distribution centered around 2600 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are notably broad, including the ability to colonize coastal regions, demonstrating a resilience to various soil types and moisture gradients found from low-lying maritime areas to higher montane elevations.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Genetics

The genetics of Crepis capillaris are characterized by a specific chromosomal constitution that plays a fundamental role in its reproductive biology and evolutionary lineage. A defining cytogenetic feature of this species is its chromosome number, which is documented at 6. This low diploid number is a significant genetic marker within the genus Crepis, influencing the complexity of its genome and its capacity for polyploidization, which is a common evolutionary mechanism in many members of the Asteraceae family. The stability and arrangement of these chromosomes contribute to the plant's genetic inheritance patterns and its ability to adapt to diverse ecological niches through genetic recombination and potential chromosomal variations.

Chromosome number :

6

Life history

The life history of Crepis capillaris is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its life strategy relies on surviving unfavorable periods in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until environmental conditions become favorable for rapid growth. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal lifecycle. Structurally and functionally, its life form is defined as a therophyte, a strategy optimized for colonizing disturbed or open habitats where quick maturation and efficient seed dispersal are essential for survival.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Crepis capillaris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. The plant is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as a liana or vine. In terms of stature, the plant height typically ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.2875 m. The shoot orientation is described as ascending, providing the structural framework for its herbaceous development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.2875 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crepis capillaris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of most temperate flora rather than the specialized C4 or CAM mechanisms. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on soil-based nutrient uptake and does not possess the ability to capture insects, nor does it function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by runcinate leaf forms, which exhibit significant dimensional variability; leaf lengths range from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 30 cm, while the width varies from 0.5 cm to 5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of approximately 2 cm. These leaves possess a mean surface area of 15.85667 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 280.71 cm²/g, reflecting its structural investment in leaf tissue relative to its dry mass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

runcinate

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

15.85667 cm²

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

280.71 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Crepis capillaris is characterized by sexual processes through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through August. The flowers, which exhibit a red color, utilize biotic pollination syndromes, specifically attracting insects such as bees. While self-fertilization is present, the plant relies on these biotic interactions for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits vary in length, with a mean of 0.2 cm, a minimum of 0.15 cm, and a maximum of 0.25 cm. The reproductive output is high, often yielding more than 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are remarkably small and uniform, with a consistent length of 2 mm and a seed volume ranging from a minimum of 0.32 mm³ to a maximum of 0.38 mm³ (mean of 0.35 mm³). The seed mass is also minute, with a mean of 0.0002256 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00018 g to a maximum of 0.000289 g. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.2 cm

Fruit length min:

0.15 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.000289 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0002256 g

Seed mass min:

0.00018 g

Seed volume max:

0.38 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.35 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.32 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Crepis capillaris has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypolipidemic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)