Urospermum (urospermum)

[NL. (Scopoli, 1777), so called from the append aged achenes; distinguished genus of composite plants, of the tribe Cichoria from the related genus Scorzonera by an involucre of a single row of bracts and by achenes with a dilated and hollow beak. The two species are natives of the Mediterranean region; one, U. picroides, also occurs, perhaps introduced, in South Africa. They are annuals or biennials, haired bristy with radical or alternate deeply cut leaves, and yellow flowers sometimes with a spiny involucre. The flower-heads become greatly enlarged in fruit, terminating long swollen hollow branches; the achenes are long and often incurved, with a long hollow appendage or stalk below in addition to the elongated beak, which bears a soft plumose pappus. See sheep's beard.