''Leontodon'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of plants in the tribe

Cichorieae The Cichorieae (also called Lactuceae) are a tribe in the plant family Asteraceae that includes 93 genera, more than 1,600 sexually reproductive species and more than 7,000 Apomixis, apomictic species. They are found primarily in temperate region ...

within the family

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

, commonly known as hawkbits. Their

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

name derives from the

mediaeval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

belief that

hawk Hawks are bird of prey, birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. Th ...

s ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally only native to

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago a ...

and

North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...

, some species have since become established in other countries, including the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. Recent research has shown that the genus ''Leontodon'' in the traditional delimitation is

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of converg ...

. Therefore, the former ''Leontodon'' subgenus ''Oporinia'' was raised to generic level. According to the nomenclatural rules the name ''

Scorzoneroides ''Scorzoneroides'' or hawkbits is a genus of plants of the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae. ''Scorzoneroides'' used to be included in the genus ''Leontodon''. Recent molecular studies revealed that ''Leontodon'' in the older, broad ...

'' has priority at generic level and therefore, the members of ''Leontodon'' subgenus ''Oporinia'' were transferred to the re-erected genus ''Scorzoneroides''.

Ecology

Seeds of ''Leontodon'' species are an important food source for certain bird species.

Uses

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...

, the species ''

Leontodon tuberosus ''Leontodon tuberosus'' is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae. Sources References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3830647 Leontodon, tuberosus Flora of Malta ...

'' which is called ('), (') or (') has its roots eaten raw and its leaves eaten

steamed Steaming is a method of cooking using steam. This is often done with a food steamer, a kitchen appliance made specifically to cook food with steam, but food can also be steamed in a wok. In the American southwest, steam pits used for cooking have ...

Secondary metabolites

The genus ''Leontodon'' s.str. (i.e. excluding the members of the resurrected genus ''Scorzoneroides'') is a rich source of hypocretenolides, unique guaiane type sesquiterpene lactones with a 12,5-lactone ring instead of the usual 12,6 lactone ring. Phenolics found in ''Leontodon'' include luteolin type flavonoids and caffeoyl quinic acid derivatives such as chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Moreover, ''Leontodon'' species contain the caffeoyl tartaric acid derivatives caffeoyl tartaric acid and cichoric acid.

Species

;Accepted speciesFlann, C. (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
*''

Leontodon alpestris ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon alpinus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon ambiguus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon anomalus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon apulus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon asperifolius ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon asperrimus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon atlanticus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon balansae ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally on ...

'' *''

Leontodon berinii ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon biscutellifolius'' *'' Leontodon borbasii'' *''

Leontodon boryi ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *''

Leontodon bourgaeanus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *''

Leontodon brancsikii ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *''

Leontodon calvatus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *'' Leontodon caucasicus'' *''

Leontodon collinus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *''

Leontodon crispus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *'' Leontodon croceus'' *'' Leontodon dandaleus'' *''

Leontodon dentatus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon djurdjurae'' *'' Leontodon dubius'' *''

Leontodon ehrenbergii ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *''

Leontodon eriopodus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon farinosus'' *''

Leontodon filii ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *''

Leontodon froedinii ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon gaussenii'' *'' Leontodon glaber'' *'' Leontodon glaberrimus'' *''

Leontodon graecus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon hellenicus'' *''

Leontodon hirtus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *'' Leontodon hispidaster'' *''

Leontodon hispidus ''Leontodon hispidus'' is a species of hawkbit known by the common names bristly hawkbit and rough hawkbit. It is native to Europe but it can be found throughout North America as an introduced species An introduced species, alien species, ex ...

'' *''

Leontodon hugueninii ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *''

Leontodon hyoseroides ''Leontodon saxatilis'' is a species of hawkbit known by the common names lesser hawkbit, rough hawkbit, and hairy hawkbit. It is native to Europe and North Africa but can be found in many other places across the globe as an introduced species an ...

'' *'' Leontodon incanus'' *'' Leontodon intermedius'' *''

Leontodon jouffroyi ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *''

Leontodon kaiseri ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon kerneri'' *'' Leontodon kotschyi'' *'' Leontodon kulczynskii'' *''

Leontodon kunthianus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *'' Leontodon laciniatus'' *''

Leontodon laconicus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *'' Leontodon lannesii'' *''

Leontodon libanoticus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon lucidus'' *'' Leontodon macrorrhizus'' *''

Leontodon maroccanus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *''

Leontodon megalorrhizus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon molineri'' *''

Leontodon nivatensis ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *'' Leontodon oxylepis'' *''

Leontodon pinetorum ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *''

Leontodon pinnatifidus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *'' Leontodon pitardii'' *''

Leontodon pratensis ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *'' Leontodon preslii'' *'' Leontodon reboudianum'' *''

Leontodon rigens ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally o ...

'' *''

Leontodon rosani ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *'' Leontodon ruthii'' *'' Leontodon saxatilis'' *''

Leontodon siculus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *'' Leontodon sooi'' *'' Leontodon stenocalathius'' *'' Leontodon subincanus'' *''

Leontodon sublyratus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *'' Leontodon taraxacoides'' *''

Leontodon tenuiflorus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally onl ...

'' *''

Leontodon tingitanus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *''

Leontodon tomentosus ''Leontodon'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English language, English name derives from the Middle Ages, mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their ey ...

'' *''

Leontodon tuberosus ''Leontodon tuberosus'' is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae. Sources References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3830647 Leontodon, tuberosus Flora of Malta ...

'' *'' Leontodon tulmentinus'' *'' Leontodon uliginosus'' *'' Leontodon vegetus''

References

{{Authority control Asteraceae genera

Ecology

Uses

Secondary metabolites

Species

Further reading

References