Urospermum picroides (L.) Scop. ex F.W.Schmidt

Annual to c. 0.5 m high, with spreading to retrorse setose hairs scattered on all parts, and minute hairs on margin of leaves. Leaves undivided, or lobed to pinnatisect, with base becoming truncate, cordate or sagittate, somewhat stem-clasping upwards; margin dentate or denticulate; basal leaves few to several, variably persistent; cauline leaves few to several, to c. 25 cm long, with l:w ratio 3–6. Capitula solitary or 2; involucre 12–22 mm long, c. 5–8 mm diam.; bracts 7–10, with long spreading setose hairs, with hyaline margin slender and usually grey or broad and pale on alternate bracts, finally reflexed. Florets: ligule c. 15 mm long; style hairs pale. Achenes 10–15 mm long, somewhat sigmoidal overall, brown; basal portion flattened-obloid, 3–5 mm long, with numerous long tubercles on faces; apical portion c. 7–10 mm long, comprising a dilated part 3.5–5 mm long bearing transverse wrinkles, tapering gradually into beak c. 3.5–5 mm long. Pappus 8–12 mm long, detaching as a unit, white.

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows on fallow land and waste ground. It grows in warm temperate places. It can grow in dry soil. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

The leaves are cooked and eaten. They are used in soups and stews. They are also used with other greens in a vegetable pie. The stems are eaten raw as a snack.