Longbeard Hawkweed

Hieracium longiberbe is known only from along the Columbia River.

Plants 25–50+ cm. Stems proximally piloso-hirsute (hairs 2–8+ mm), sometimes glabrate, distally glabrous or piloso-hirsute (hairs 2–5+ mm). Leaves: basal 0(–3+), cauline 6–12+; blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 25–80(–100+) × 8–15(–25+) mm, lengths 3–5 times widths, bases ± cuneate, margins usually entire, rarely denticulate, apices obtuse to acute, abaxial faces piloso-hirsute (hairs 2–5+ mm), adaxial usually piloso-hirsute at margins (hairs 2–5+ mm), rarely glabrous. Heads (3–)6–12+ in corymbiform arrays. Peduncles usually stellate-pubescent, sometimes piloso-hirsute and/or stipitate-glandular as well, rarely glabrous. Calyculi: bractlets 9–13+. Involucres campanulate, 7–10 mm. Phyllaries 12–15+, apices ± rounded, abaxial faces piloso-hirsute and stellate-pubescent. Florets 12–24+; corollas yellow, 7–12 mm. Cypselae columnar, ca. 3.5 mm; pappi of 32–40+, white or stramineous bristles in ± 2 series, 5–6 mm.

Hieracium longiberbe, known by the common name longbeard hawkweed, is a rare North American plant species in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae It has been found only in the Columbia River Gorge along the border between the states of Washington and Oregon in the northwestern United States.

Hieracium longiberbe is an herb up to 50 cm (20 in) tall, with leaves mostly on the stem rather than in a rosette at the bottom. Leaves, stems, and the bracts surrounding the flower heads are covered with long and conspicuous hairs up to 8 mm (0.31 in) long. Leaves are up to 100 mm (3.9 in) long, with no teeth on the edges. One stalk will produce 3-12 flower heads in a flat-topped array. Each head has 12-24 yellow ray flowers but no disc flowers.