Leontodon is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits.

Leontodon
Leontodon hispidus L.
Seed-head of Leontodon hispidus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Asterales
Family:Asteraceae
Subfamily:Cichorioideae
Tribe:Cichorieae
Subtribe:Hypochaeridinae
Genus:Leontodon
L.
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Antodon Neck.
  • Apargia Scop.
  • Asterothrix Cass.
  • Bohadschia F.W.Schmidt
  • Colobium Roth
  • Dens-leonis Ség.
  • Microderis DC.
  • Plancia Neck.
  • Streckera Sch.Bip.
  • Thrincia Roth.
  • Thrixa Dulac
  • Virea Adans.

Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally only native to Eurasia and North Africa, some species have since become established in other countries, including the United States[2] and New Zealand.[3]

Recent research has shown that the genus Leontodon in the traditional delimitation is polyphyletic. Therefore, the former Leontodon subgenus Oporinia was raised to generic level.[4] According to the nomenclatural rules the name Scorzoneroides has priority at generic level and therefore, the members of Leontodon subgenus Oporinia were transferred to the re-erected genus Scorzoneroides.[5]

Ecology

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Seeds of Leontodon species are an important food source for certain bird species.[6]

Uses

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In Crete, the roots of the species Leontodon tuberosus are eaten raw and its leaves are eaten steamed.[7]

Secondary metabolites

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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.[8]

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.[9][10]

Species

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The following species are recognised in the genus Leontodon:[1]


Further reading

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  • Euro+Med Plantbase
  • Battandier, J. A.; L. Trabut (1902). Flore de l'Algérie et de la Tunisie. Alger.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Blatter, E. (1921). Flora Arabica II: Leguminosae-Compositae. Calcutta.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Boulos, L. (2002). Flora of Egypt. Cairo.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Danin, A. (2004). Distribution atlas of plants in the Flora Palaestina area. Jerusalem.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Davis, P. (1975). Flora of Turkey Vol. 5. Edinburgh.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Finch, R. A.; P. D. Sell (1976). "Leontodon L.". In Tutin, T. G.; Heywood, V. H.; Burges, N. A.; Moore, D. M.; Valentine, D. H.; Walters S. M.; Webb D. A. (eds.). Flora Europaea. Vol. 4. Cambridge.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Jafri, S.M.H.; A. El-Gadi (1983). Flora of Libya. Tripoli.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Jahandiez, E.; R. Maire (1934). Catalogue des plantes du Maroc. Vol. 3. Alger.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Moutérde, P. (1983). Nouvelle flore du Liban et de la Syrie. Beyrouth.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Pittoni, H. (1977). "Leontodon". In K. H. Rechinger (ed.). Flora Iranica. Vol. 122. Graz.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Quézel, P.; S. Santa (1963). Nouvelle flore de l'Algérie et des régions désertiques méridionales. Paris.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Rechinger, K. H. (1964). Flora of lowland Iraq. Weinheim.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Vassilev, V. N. (2000). Leontodon. In Bobrov, E. G. & Tzevelev, N. N. Flora of the USSR 29: Compositae, Cichorieae, pages 204-218. Enfield.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Widder, F.J. (1975). "Die Gliederung der Gattung Leontodon". Phyton (Horn, Austria). 17: 23–29. ISSN 0079-2047.
  • Zidorn, C. (2012). "Leontodon and Scorzoneroides (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) in Italy". Plant Biosystems. 146 (Suppl. 1). Taylor & Francis: 41–51. doi:10.1080/11263504.2012.710272. ISSN 1126-3504. S2CID 86770322.
  • Zohary, M. (1978). Flora Palaestina Vol. 3. Jerusalem.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

References

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