Picris hieracioides

Hawkweed Picris, Hawkweed oxtongue

Asteraceae Edible: Root, Leaves, Stems, Fruit 21,372 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Picris hieracioides, or hawkweed oxtongue, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

Description

A herb. It can grow for 2 or for several years. It grows 60-90 cm tall. The leaves are divided or have large teeth. They are bristly on the veins underneath. The leaves near the base are fattened sword shaped and 7-20 cm long. They narrow at the base to a short leaf stalk. The leaves higher up clasp the stem. The flower is bright yellow. Possibly now Picris angustifolia

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked as a pot-herb. They are not particularly good raw and are somewhat better when cooked, with a rather bitter flavour.

Traditional Uses

The root is used as a famine food. The leaves are used in vegetable soup. The young leaves and stems are eaten in salads. The fruit are eaten raw.

Medicinal Uses

The bitter leaves have been used as a febrifuge. The plant is mixed with Swertia pedicellata, pounded to a paste, and applied to the forehead to treat headaches.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in grassy habitats and scrub. In China it is on sandy soils between 200-3,600 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Andorra, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Britain, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Czech Republic, Europe, France, Greece, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North America, Pacific, Russia, SE Asia, Sicily, Slovenia, South Africa, Tasmania, Tibet, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Prefers a dryish soil but succeeds in most soils. Dislikes shade. Wild plants are an indicator of calcareous soils. Seed is often produced apomictically. Any seedlings from this seed will be genetically identical to the parent plant.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring directly in situ, covering it only very lightly. Germination should occur fairly quickly.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Other Information

It is sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 45 Picris species. The plant listed in Tasmania by Curtis is Picris angustifolia.

Synonyms

Picris hieracioides L. var. japonica RegelPicris japonica Auctt.

Also Known As

Cicore ciucci, Darnitch, Horeil jestrabnikovity, Jia luo bing bing, Kumaicai, Ox-Tongue, Radicchio peloso, Spurraine

References (24)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 455
Biscotti, N. & Pieroni, A., 2015, The hidden Mediterranean diet: wild vegetables traditionally gathered and consumed in the Gargano area, Apulia, SE Italy. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 84 (3): 327-338
Biscotti, N. et al, 2018, The traditional food use of wild vegetables in Apulia (Italy) in the light of Italian ethnobotanical literature. Italian Botanist 5:1-24
Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 463
Cerne, M., 1992, Wild Plants from Slovenia used as Vegetables. Acta Horticulturae 318

Show all 24 references

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Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 152
Crowe, A., 1997, A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin. p 94
Curtis, W.M., 1963, The Students Flora of Tasmania Vol 2 p 383
Flora of Australia Volume 49, Oceanic Islands 1, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. (1994) p 369
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 495
Kang, Y., et al, 2012, Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys on the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine; 9:26
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 189
Nanagulyan, S., et al, 2020, Wild plants and fungi sold in the markets of Yerevan (Armenia). Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 16:26
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Pasta, S., et al, 2020, An Updated Checklist of the Sicilian Native Edible Plants: Preserving the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Century-Old Agro-Pastoral Landscapes. Frontiers in Plant Science. Volume 11|Article 388
Pieroni, A., 1999, Gathered wild food plants in the Upper Valley of the Serchio River (Garfagnana), Central Italy. Economic Botany 53(3) pp 327-341
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Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 32
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Urgamal, M., Oyuntsetseg, B., Nyambayar, D. & Dulamsuren, Ch. 2014. Conspectus of the vascular plants of Mongolia. (Editors: Sanchir, Ch. & Jamsran, Ts.). Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Admon“ Press. 334pp. (p. 199-230).