Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 792 (1753).

Derivation: Greek pikris, applied to a species of this genus by Aristotle, from pikros, sharp, pungent; probably referring to the taste.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Annual and biennial herbs; vestiture non-glandular, of mostly short hooked rigid hairs; stem terete; leaves basal and cauline, alternate, flat, more or less toothed.

Capitula pedunculate in loose terminal corymbs, homogamous; involucre cylindrical, multisedate; bracts herbaceous, ovate to linear, unequal; receptacle fiat, naked, pitted; florets numerous, all bisexual, fertile, ligulate; ligules linear, yellow; corolla tube cylindrical, pubescent; anthers shortly tailed at the base, with minute triangular apical appendages; style branches narrowly linear, subterete, acute, hardly papillose.

Achenes terete, usually ribbed, transversely rugulose, tapered at the apex or with a filiform beak; pappus of plumose bristles in one series, with a few shorter outer barbellate bristles, connate at the base, caducous as a unit.

Distribution:  About 60 species in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Outer involucral bracts ovate-cordate, uniseriate; achenes with filiform beaks	P. echioides 1.
1. Outer involucral bracts small, lanceolate, 2-4-seriate; achenes tapered but not filiform-beaked
2. Outer involucral bracts c. 2-seriate, appressed, setose; stem with coarse stiff hairs	P. hieracioides 2.
2. Outer involucral bracts 2-4-seriate, spreading to recurved, glabrous; stems hispid with small spines	P. squarrosa 3.

Author: Not yet available