Crepis, commonly known in some parts of the world as hawksbeard or hawk's-beard (but not to be confused with the related genus Hieracium similarly appellated), is a genus of about 200 annual and perennial flowering plants of the family Asteraceae superficially resembling the dandelion, the most conspicuous difference being that Crepis usually has branching scapes with multiple heads (though solitary heads can occur). The name Crepis derives from Greek, meaning "shoe".

Species can be found all through the Northern Hemisphere and tropical Africa.

Ecology

Crepis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the broad-barred white moth. The fly Tephritis formosa is known to attack the capitula of this plant.^[1]

Seeds of Crepis species are an important food source for some bird species.^[2]

Uses

In Crete, Greece the leaves of Crepis commutata which is called glykosyrida (γλυκοσυρίδα) is eaten raw, boiled, steamed or browned in salads. Another two species on the same island, Crepis vesicaria, called kokkinogoula (κοκκινογούλα), lekanida (λεκανίδα) or prikousa (πρικούσα) and a local variety called maryies (μαργιές) or pikrouses (πικρούσες) have both its leaves and tender shoots eaten boiled by the locals.

Secondary metabolites

The genus Crepis is a rich source of costus lactone type guaianolides.^[3]

Phenolics found in Crepis include luteolin type flavonoids and caffeoyl quinic acid derivatives such as chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Moreover, Crepis species contain the caffeoyl tartaric acid derivatives caffeoyl tartaric acid and cichoric acid.^[4]

Selected species

• Crepis acuminata - tapertip hawksbeard
• Crepis bakeri - Baker's hawksbeard
• Crepis biennis - rough hawksbeard
• Crepis capillaris - smooth hawksbeard
• Crepis foetida - stinking hawksbeard
• Crepis incana - pink dandelion
• Crepis intermedia - limestone hawksbeard
• Crepis modocensis - Modoc hawksbeard
• Crepis mollis - northern hawksbeard
• Crepis monticola - mountain hawksbeard
• Crepis nana - dwarf alpine hawksbeard
• Crepis nicaeensis - French hawksbeard
• Crepis occidentalis - largeflower hawksbeard
• Crepis paludosa - marsh hawksbeard
• Crepis pleurocarpa - nakedstem hawksbeard
• Crepis praemorsa - leafless hawksbeard
• Crepis rubra - red hawksbeard
• Crepis runcinata - fiddleleaf hawksbeard
• Crepis setosa - bristly hawksbeard
• Crepis sibirica
• Crepis sodiroi
• Crepis tectorum - narrow-leaved hawksbeard
• Crepis vesicaria - beaked hawksbeard

References