Oriental False Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica)
Have you noticed this fragile, dandelion-like herb popping up around the roadsides, gardens and wastelands?
It is the Oriental False Hawksbeard (Youngia japonica). It is a plant from the dandelion family Asteraceae. Like dandelions, Youngia japonica, grows from a basal rosette of lobed leaves and produces clusters of small, bright yellow flowers. Leaves are hairy and a milky sap is emitted when leaves are torn. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.
Dandelions differ from this in having a sturdier, deeper taproot and a thicker, hollow stem bearing just a single flower cluster. Youngia japonica, on the other hand, bears multiple, smaller flower clusters on slender stems.
If you look closely at what seems to be a single flower, is actually a cluster of minuscule strap-like flowers (florets) tightly packed together. When the plant goes to seed, it produces numerous tiny fruits bearing silky “parachute-like” hairs called pappus, that promote dispersal by the wind.
The species is native to Southeast Asia, but it has become widespread around much of the world, and considered a fast spreading invasive weed.
Though a weed, it has been used in traditional medicine to reduce fever, suppress coughing ( due to antitussive properties), as a diuretic and to treat boils and snake bites. It is also found to contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances.
Picture credits: Jyoti Prateek
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