Crepis L., commonly known as hawksbeards or hawk's-beards, is a genus of approximately 200–300 annual and perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae (subfamily Cichorioideae, tribe Cichorieae). Plants are superficially similar to dandelions (Taraxacum) but are readily distinguished by their branching stems bearing multiple small yellow flower heads rather than a single head per scape. Stems and leaves contain milky sap (latex) characteristic of the tribe Cichorieae. Individual flower heads consist entirely of ray florets (ligulate flowers), typically bright yellow, and the achene fruits are often topped with a pappus of white bristles that aids wind dispersal.
The genus has its greatest diversity in the Mediterranean Basin, which is considered its center of origin, but species are found across the entire Northern Hemisphere and into Africa. The range extends from lowland disturbed habitats and meadows through alpine zones, with individual species occupying highly specific ecological niches. Several species have been widely introduced outside their native ranges and now occur on multiple continents.
One of the most scientifically notable features of Crepis is the prevalence of apomixis — the production of seeds without fertilization, generating clonal offspring. Apomictic species are typically polyploid (three or more chromosome sets), while sexually reproducing species are generally diploid. This reproductive strategy allows rapid range expansion without dependence on pollinators. A well-studied North American agamic complex of apomictic Crepis species is thought to have originated during the Pliocene epoch (5.3–2.6 million years ago). Polyploid apomicts can further interfere with sexual reproduction in diploid relatives through misdirected pollen transfer, tending to restrict diploid populations to areas isolated from apomicts.
The genus was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum (1753, Vol. 2: 805). GBIF records approximately 673 descendant taxa, while estimates of accepted species typically range around 200. The genus is placed in subtribe Crepidinae and contains secondary metabolites including sesquiterpene lactones (costus lactone-type guaianolides), luteolin-type flavonoids, and caffeoyl derivatives including chlorogenic acid and cichoric acid.
Etymology
The genus name Crepis derives from the ancient Greek word krepis (κρηπίς), meaning "slipper" or "sandal." The reference is traditionally interpreted as alluding to the shape of the fruit (achene), though the precise reasoning of the original author has not been definitively established. Linnaeus applied the name when he formally described the genus in 1753.
Distribution
Crepis is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere and into Africa, with the Mediterranean Basin as the center of generic diversity. The genus spans from western Europe and North Africa eastward through the Middle East, Central Asia, and into East Asia, as well as throughout North America. Several species have been introduced beyond their native ranges and are now naturalized globally.
In Switzerland alone, Info Flora documents at least 31 species, ranging from lowland meadows to alpine zones above the treeline. Alpine representatives include C. alpestris, C. pyrenaica, and C. pygmaea; meadow species include C. biennis, C. capillaris, and C. mollis; C. paludosa occupies wetlands; and C. foetida favors dry disturbed ground. In western North America, species such as C. acuminata extend from Washington state to Arizona at elevations from 700 to 10,800 feet, inhabiting open woods, meadows, and montane environments.
Ecology
Plants in the genus Crepis are insect-pollinated, primarily by bees and generalist pollinators. The genus serves as a host for various invertebrates: larvae of certain Lepidoptera species feed on the plants; the fly Tephritis formosa attacks flower heads; and the oomycete-like fungus Bremia parasitizes C. pyrenaica. Seeds provide nutrition for multiple bird species.
A defining ecological and evolutionary trait of the genus is the widespread occurrence of apomixis — asexual seed production without fertilization. Apomictic species are typically polyploid and can expand their ranges rapidly because they do not depend on pollinator visits for successful reproduction. Sexual, diploid species tend to be restricted to areas geographically isolated from apomictic relatives, because pollen from polyploid apomicts can fertilize diploid ovules to produce sterile or low-viability hybrids, reducing fitness of the sexual populations. This reproductive interference has shaped the distribution patterns of sexual versus apomictic lineages across the genus's range.
Species occupy habitats ranging from disturbed roadsides and cultivated fields to alpine meadows and wetlands, reflecting broad ecological tolerance across the genus as a whole.
Cultivation
Crepis species generally prefer open, sunny positions with well-drained soil. Crepis acuminata, representative of western North American species, grows best in full sun to partial shade with moderate moisture and low soil fertility; high fertility encourages rank, coarse growth. Plants naturalize readily in meadow conditions and require minimal maintenance once established. The flowers attract bees and other pollinators, making the genus of value in wildlife gardens.
Conservation
Within Switzerland, individual Crepis species are assessed under the National Red List 2016 and the Regional Red List 2019, reflecting that some species face pressure from habitat change, particularly those occupying specialized niches such as alpine grasslands or wetlands. No Crepis species or the genus as a whole appears in the IUCN Global Invasive Species Database as a recognized invasive threat.
Cultural Uses
Several Crepis species have a history of use as food plants in parts of Europe and the Mediterranean. In Crete, the leaves of Crepis commutata, locally known as glykosyrida, are consumed raw, boiled, steamed, or added to salads. Crepis vesicaria leaves and young shoots are similarly eaten boiled by local communities under various regional vernacular names.
In western North America, the Shoshoni people used pulverized roots of Crepis acuminata medicinally for eye treatments, as well as for gynecological support during postpartum recovery and for general pain relief. The young tender stems of C. acuminata are also edible when harvested before or at the onset of flowering; they carry a characteristic green, slightly resinous bitterness from the latex, which can be reduced by peeling and brief boiling.
Taxonomy Notes
Crepis L. was described by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum (1753, Vol. 2: 805) and is the type genus of subtribe Crepidinae within tribe Cichorieae, subfamily Cichorioideae, family Asteraceae. The order is Asterales; higher classification places it in class Magnoliopsida, phylum Tracheophyta, kingdom Plantae.
The genus contains secondary metabolites including costus lactone-type guaianolides (sesquiterpene lactones), luteolin-type flavonoids, and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives such as chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and cichoric acid. GBIF records approximately 673 descendant taxa across the genus. The Swiss Info Flora database follows Checklist 2017 taxonomy and recognizes subspecific variants such as C. vesicaria subsp. taraxacifolia.
The prevalence of apomixis complicates species delimitation within Crepis: apomictic lineages reproduce clonally and can form stable, morphologically distinct populations that are nonetheless of hybrid polyploid origin, creating what botanists call "agamic complexes."
