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Picris echioides - L.

Common Name Bristly Ox-Tongue
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Roadsides, hedgebanks, field margins and waste places, usually on stiff and calcareous soils[17].
Range S. Europe. Possibly native but certainly established in Britain.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Picris echioides Bristly Ox-Tongue


Picris echioides Bristly Ox-Tongue

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Picris echioides is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to October, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Apomictic (reproduce by seeds formed without sexual fusion). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Helmintia echioides.

Plant Habitats

 Meadow; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 105, 173]. Not wonderful raw, the leaves are slightly better cooked[173]. A rather bitter flavour[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils[200]. Dislikes shade. Wild plants are an indicator of calcareous soils[200]. Seed is often produced apomictically[17]. Any seedlings from this seed will be genetically identical to the parent plant.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ, only just covering the seed. Germination should take place quite quickly.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ukraine (Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Picris hieracioidesHawkweed Ox-TongueBiennial/Perennial0.9 5-9  LMHNDM210

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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Subject : Picris echioides  
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