Robinson's hawkweed facts for kids

Hieracium robinsonii, also known as Robinson's hawkweed, is a type of plant found in North America. It belongs to the dandelion tribe and is part of the larger sunflower family. This plant is native to parts of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. You can find it growing naturally in places like Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Maine, and New Hampshire. While it was once reported in Newfoundland, it doesn't seem to grow there anymore.

What is Robinson's Hawkweed?

Robinson's hawkweed is a small plant, often called an herb. It can grow up to 35 cm (14 in) tall. Imagine a ruler – that's about how tall it gets! This plant has special star-shaped hairs on its stems and leaves.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of Robinson's hawkweed grow in two main places. Some leaves form a flat circle close to the ground, which is called a rosette. Other leaves grow directly on the stem. Each leaf can be up to 80 mm (3.1 in) long. The top side of the leaves usually has very few hairs, or sometimes none at all. But if you look underneath, you'll see many more hairs, making them feel a bit fuzzy.

Flowers and How They Look

Each plant stalk can produce anywhere from 1 to 10 flower heads. These flower heads often grow in a flat-topped cluster, making them easy to spot. Every single flower head is made up of 30 to 50 bright yellow "ray flowers." These are the petal-like parts you see on a daisy or a sunflower. Interestingly, unlike some other plants in the sunflower family, Robinson's hawkweed does not have "disc flowers," which are the tiny flowers usually found in the center of a sunflower.