Leontodon

Leontodon is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits.

Leontodon
Leontodon hispidus L.
Seed-head of Leontodon hispidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Cichorioideae
Tribe: Cichorieae
Subtribe: Hypochaeridinae
Genus: Leontodon
L.
Synonyms
List
  • Antodon Neck.
  • Apargia Scop.
  • Asterothrix Cass.
  • Bohadschia F.W.Schmidt
  • Colobium Roth
  • Dens-leonis Ség.
  • Microderis DC.
  • Plancia Neck.
  • Streckera Sch.Bip.
  • Thrincia Roth.
  • Thrixa Dulac
  • Virea Adans.

Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally only native to Eurasia and North Africa, some species have since become established in other countries, including the United States and New Zealand.

Recent research has shown that the genus Leontodon in the traditional delimitation is polyphyletic. Therefore, the former Leontodon subgenus Oporinia was raised to generic level. According to the nomenclatural rules the name Scorzoneroides has priority at generic level and therefore, the members of Leontodon subgenus Oporinia were transferred to the re-erected genus Scorzoneroides.

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