Identify that Plant

Could this be a field with Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)?  Or how about this next group of yellow flowers?

Nope.  Neither photo shows the Common dandelion.  Let’s look more closely.

These flower heads are from the first field of flowers pictured above.  This is Cat’s ear (Hypochoeris radicata) — a plant previously featured in a comparison with Common dandelion.

This next photo is the flower from the second group of yellow composite flowers.  It is Meadow hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum).

With a quick glance, it might seem that this is the same flowering plant.  But look more carefully at another nearby specimen of each plant — one that is not quite blooming yet.

Cat’s ear (left) and Meadow hawkweed (right)

Although both “not-yet-blooming” flower heads have a similar overall shape, the Cat’s ear tends to grow singly or in spread-apart clusters (as shown in the third photo above).  Meadow hawkweed has a tightly grouped cluster of flower heads — which can be seen in this comparison image as well as the next photo.

Meadow hawkweed

Here’s another photo of the Cat’s ear composite flower.

Cat’s ear

Check out the stem on the Cat’s ear plant.  It is smooth.  In contrast, Meadow hawkweed’s stem is hairy.

Meadow hawkweed

Here’s Meadow hawkweed in its late fall / early winter phase.  The hairiness of the leaves is quite visible.

Meadow hawkweed

How about the Cat’s ear leaves?

Cat’s ear

Well, they are hairy, too!  So how can we tell them apart when they are not blooming?  Look closely at each plant’s leaf shape.  They are clearly different along their margins.

Here is one last photo of Meadow hawkweed — illustrating its overall growth habit.

Meadow hawkweed

This is a patch of Common chickweed (Stellaria media).  Next is a patch of Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum).

Similarities abound with these two plants.  And there are some distinct differences.  Let’s start with how they are alike.  Both have leaves arranged oppositely along the stem.

When you pull gently on the stems of each plant, they stretch apart to reveal an inner core.

Both chickweeds grow in the same habitat.  Both have the same low-to-the-ground and spreading overall shape.

Now for some differences.  The leaves are differently-shaped.

The older leaves of Common chickweed have stems (peduncles) while all the Mouse-ear chickweed leaves are sessile (no stems).  The stems of Common chickweed have a line of hairs between each node while the stems of Mouse-ear chickweed are hairy all over.

The flowers have two distinguishing differences.  The five petals of Common chickweed are deeply divided — so much so that it looks like ten petals.  The five petals of Mouse-ear chickweed are divided — but not so deeply — usually no more than half the length of the overall petal.

The second difference is the number of styles within each flower.  For this, you will have to get very close to the flower.  A hand lens might even be necessary.

Chickweeds in the Stellaria genus have three styles — as in Common chickweed (Stellaria media).  Chickweeds in the Cerastium genus have five styles — as in the Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium fontanum).