Hieraceum gracile, July 17, 2020
Common & scientific name
Slender hawkweed, Hieracium gracile
Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae
Location
Summit area, 12,100’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
This strange, spindly flower is notable largely for the silver and black hairs covering its flower head, which consists solely of ray flowers (“petals”). As with many sunflowers, after fertilization its flowers create a dandelion-like head of seed-carrying hairs that are disbursed by the wind.