Black-bracted Hawkweed - Hieracium subaequialtum

Hawkweeds are notoriously difficult to identify and need expert assistance. We have to thank national expert Vince Jones who determined this to species level.

There are other very similar species in this genus which means that detailed examination of an actual specimen by an expert is generally needed to identify the exact species.

Identifying most Hieracium to species-level is extremely difficult, and can only be done from a specimen by an expert in the genus.  Stace (4th edition) separates the 415 microspecies into 15 sections which can be identified with care on the basis of leaf characteristics.

A specimen is required for verification

Recorded on a public jitty way beneath wooden fencing.

Seen flowering at least from May to August.

Perennial.

National recording is made awkward because of the diffuclty of identifying and separating various similar species.

Hawkweeds in general are fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland, but lack of accurate identification of most of the species makes it almost impossible to give accurate figures for most.