Stinking hawk's-beard

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Southern Hawksbeard
• Stinking Hawk's-Beard
• foetid hawk's-beard
• roadside hawk's-beard
• Stinking Hawksbeard

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hostia foetida
• Wibelia foetida
• Rhynchopappus foetidus
• Anisoderis foetida
• Arnoseris foetida
• Barkhausia foetida
• Berinia foetida
• Picris foetida
• Hieracium foetidum
• Hieracioides foetida

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed within the genus Crepis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in the landscapes of Austria and Belgium. It also inhabits the territories of Germany throughout the central part of the continent. Furthermore, its range extends through the regions of Czechia and Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crepis foetida is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2000 m AMSL. This plant is primarily found in lowland habitats, where it adapts to various environmental conditions within these lower-lying regions. Its distribution throughout these diverse elevations allows it to occupy a wide ecological niche, spanning from coastal or near-sea-level areas to significant montane heights.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Crepis foetida is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable periods primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until environmental conditions become suitable for growth. Its physiological development follows a deciduous pattern, where the plant's vegetative parts senesce as the life cycle concludes. This specific combination of traits ensures that the species can rapidly colonize available habitats before the onset of seasonal changes that would otherwise terminate its growth.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Crepis foetida is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This terrestrial plant is independent, neither functioning as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and maintains a self-supporting structure without the need for climbing or liana-like behavior. The shoots exhibit an erect orientation, supporting a stature that typically reaches a mean height of 0.325 m, though individual specimens may range from a minimum height of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.325 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crepis foetida is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrition through soil-derived nutrients rather than capturing prey. The vegetative morphology is defined by pinnatifid leaf forms, which exhibit significant dimensional variability. Specifically, the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 13 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width of 3 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

pinnatifid

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Crepis foetida is characterized by a sexual process involving biotic pollination, primarily through an insect pollination syndrome. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through August, featuring yellow flowers that range in length from a minimum of 0.65 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm. While self-fertilization is present, the plant does not engage in asexual reproduction and is classified as a monocarp. Following fertilization, the plant produces fruits categorized as achenes, which are indehiscent in nature. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 1.1 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 1.75 cm, while the minimum length is recorded at 0.6 cm. The resulting seeds are characterized by an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind for distribution. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00053475 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0003 g to a maximum of 0.0019 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.65 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

1.75 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0019 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00053475 g

Seed mass min:

3e-04 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Crepis foetida 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)