California Invasive Plant Council

Urospermum picroides

Synonyms: Tragopogon capensis, Tragopogon picroides, Urospermum capense

Common names: prickly goldenfleece, false hawkbit

Prickly goldenfleece (Urospermum picroides) is an annual or biennial forb (family Asteraceae) that is native to Eurasia and has naturalized in a number of locations worldwide. In California, the species has been spreading in the coastal regions of Southern and Central California, forming dense patches in some locations. Although evidence of ecological/environmental impacts are limited, its distribution has expanded dramatically from roadsides in recent years and it has been observed forming dense monocultures and establishing in undisturbed areas with sensitive plant species. Flower heads have only “ligulate” (strap-shaped) florets, a swollen receptacle, and only one set of phyllaries (bracts). The fruits (aka “seeds”) have a hollow tail, in contrast to many other similar species.

Cal-IPC Rating: Watch

CDFA Rating: None?

Explanation of CDFA ratings

• A – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and is either not known to be established in California or it is present in a limited distribution that allows for the possibility of eradication or successful containment.
• B – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is of limited distribution.
• C – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is usually widespread.
• D – An organism known to be of little or no economic or environmental detriment, to have an extremely low likelihood of weediness, or is known to be a parasite or predator.
• Q – An organism or disorder suspected to be of economic or environmental detriment, but whose status is uncertain because of incomplete identification or inadequate information.
• * – An asterisk next to the rating indicates that a plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds.
• -* – This plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds, but is otherwise not rated.

More details

Assessment(s)

Urospermum picroides Plant Risk Assessment - An evaluation of the potential for a plant to be invasive in California.

Weed Management Notes

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

• A weed on the move: Community scientists use iNaturalist to map the distribution of Urospermum picroides. Guilliams, C. Matt; Hasenstab-Lehman, Kristen; Searcy, Adam J.. Vol 27, Issue 3

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

• Weed Alerts 2023. Burger, Jutta; Vanderhoff, Ron (2023)

Other Urospermum picroides Information

• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
• EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
• GBIF - Global distribution information.
• Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
• USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.
• The Plant List - Global taxonomic resource and collaborative clearinghouse from Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Missouri Botanic Garden and others.

Additional photos