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Orange hawkweed Facts

Orange hawkweed Facts
Orange hawkweed is herbaceous plant that belongs to the sunflower family. It originates from central and southern parts of Europe. Orange hawkweed grows in temperate, cooler areas, on the soil of poor quality. It can be found in the open woodlands, areas near the roads, pastures and alpine meadows. Orange hawkweed is classified as noxious weed in the parts of North America, Australia and New Zealand. It easily occupies new areas and forms dense mats on the ground which prevent growth of native plant species. Orange hawkweed also reduces forage value (grazing cattle do not eat this plant). Orange hawkweed is cultivated in ornamental purposes in some parts of the world.
Interesting Orange hawkweed Facts:
Orange hawkweed produces several creeping stems which grow close to the ground and form roots at the joints. Plant develops erect flowering stem covered with hairs that can reach 10 to 20 inches in height.
Orange hawkweed obtains nutrients from the soil via shallow, fibrous root.
Orange hawkweed develops elongated, lanceolate or elliptical, hairy leaves that have smooth or slightly toothed edges. Leaves grow in the form of rosette (near the ground). They do not have petioles and they are darker colored on the upper surface.
Orange hawkweed produces yellow, orange or reddish flower heads on top of the flowering stem. Flower heads consist of densely packed strap-shaped florets equipped with both type of reproductive organs (perfect flowers). Each flower head is surrounded with green bracts (modified leaves) that are covered with long blackish hairs.
Orange hawkweed produces 2 to 25 flower heads during the summer and early autumn.
Fruit of orange hawkweed is dark brown or purple-black, cylindrical achene equipped with whitish or brown hairs which facilitate dispersal by wind. Each flower produces 12 to 30 seed.
Seed of orange hawkweed can lay dormant on the ground up to 7 years (until the appearance of appropriate weather conditions).
Orange hawkweed propagates via seed, runners and division of rhizome.
Orange hawkweed contains milky sap which leaks from injured parts of the plant.
Name "hawkweed" was coined by Pliny, Roman naturalist who thought that hawks eat this plant to improve their eyesight.
Orange hawkweed is also known as "devil's paintbrush" due to brightly-colored flowers and ability of the plant to propagate at incredible speed.
Orange hawkweed is one of the rare plant species that prevents germination of seed and pollination of other, nearby plant species via its pollen.
Cultivation of orange hawkweed in ornamental purposes is prohibited in some countries due to ability of this plant to easily "escape" from the cultivation.
People apply various chemical and physical methods to eradicate orange hawkweed from the occupied areas.
Orange hawkweed is perennial plant, which means that it can survive more than 2 years in the wild.


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