''Leontodon'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

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 apomictic species. They are found primarily in temperate regions of the E ...

within the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

, commonly known as hawkbits. Their English name derives from the

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

belief that

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

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

Eurasia Eurasia ( , ) is a continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. According to some geographers, Physical geography, physiographically, Eurasia is a single supercontinent. The concept of Europe and Asia as distinct continents d ...

and

North Africa North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...

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

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

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

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage that includes organisms with mixed evolutionary origin but does not include their most recent common ancestor. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as Homoplasy, homoplasies ...

. 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, broa ...

'' 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 ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...

, the roots of the species ''

Leontodon tuberosus ''Leontodon tuberosus'' is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order A ...

'' are eaten raw and its leaves are 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 ha ...

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 lactone Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoids that contain a lactone ring. They are most often found in plants of the family Asteraceae (daisies, asters). Other plant families with SLs are Umbelliferae (celery, parsley, carrots) ...

s with a 12,5-lactone ring instead of the usual 12,6 lactone ring. Phenolics found in ''Leontodon'' species 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

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Leontodon'': *''

Leontodon albanicus ''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 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 o ...

'' *''

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 o ...

'' *''

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 o ...

'' *''

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 o ...

'' *''

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'' 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 boryi ''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 bourgaeanus ''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 caroliaedoi ''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 × carreiroi'' *'' Leontodon caucasicus'' *'' Leontodon crispus'' *'' Leontodon djurdjurae'' *'' Leontodon dubius'' *'' Leontodon eriopodus'' *'' Leontodon farinosus'' *'' Leontodon filii'' *'' Leontodon × friasi'' *'' Leontodon graecus'' *'' Leontodon × grassiorum'' *'' Leontodon hellenicus'' *'' Leontodon hirtus'' *''

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 can be found throughout North America as an introduced species. It ranked first place among the "non-weed" per ...

'' *'' Leontodon hochstetteri'' *'' Leontodon hyoseroides'' *'' Leontodon incanus'' *'' Leontodon intermedius'' *'' Leontodon kotschyi'' *'' Leontodon kulczynskii'' *'' Leontodon libanoticus'' *'' Leontodon longirostris'' *'' Leontodon maroccanus'' *'' Leontodon oxylepis'' *'' Leontodon pinetorum'' *'' Leontodon pitardii'' *'' Leontodon rigens'' *'' Leontodon rosanoi'' *'' Leontodon saxatilis'' *'' Leontodon siculus'' *'' Leontodon stenocalathius'' *''

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 on ...

'' *'' Leontodon tingitanus'' *''

'' *'' Leontodon × vegetus''

References

{{Authority control Asteraceae genera

Ecology

Uses

Secondary metabolites

Species

Further reading

References