Common Catsear
(Hypochaeris radicata L.)
Perennial Broadleaves
Habitat Characteristics
Often found in lawns, gardens, and waste places, Common Catsear is an extremely aggressive weed of lowland pasture and lawn, where it appears to need a considerable amount of moisture to reproduce well.
Identification
Common Catsear is a perennial plant with basal rosettes of leaves and a long, thick, fleshy taproot. The leaves are rough-hairy and lobed or wavy-margined. The yellow flowers occur in heads that are 1 – 1½ inches in diameter and sit on tall flowering stems. Common Catsear is very similar to the dandelion, but differs in that dandelions bear a single hollow flower stalk and Catsear will produce more than one flower stalk per plant.
Life History
This perennial weed has vegetative growth in the spring and flowers from May through August. It reproduces by seeds, but can spread through multiplication of its crown and root sections.
Management
Cultural Techniques
- Badly infested fields should be cultivated.
Chemical Techniques
- See Herbicide Efficacy Table (pdf)
Web References
USDA – NRCS Plant Profile, Common Catsear
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HYRA3&photoID=hyra3_1v.jpg
University of California IPM, Weed Gallery, Catsear
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/spotted_catsear.html
Invasive Species, The Source for Information and Images of Invasive & Exotic Species, Catsear
http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=5740
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