FLAT WEED

Flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata L.) is a perennial weed. Found on a wide range in soil types in pastures, lawns, paddocks, disturbed areas, roadsides and waste places, and is naturaslised into many native vegetation types. It does tolerate poor drainage. Deep taproot tends to give it drought resistance.
Flatweed is a herb to 400 mm wide with yellow daisy type flowers up to 30 mm diameter borne on simple or branched, leafless stalks at any time of the year with a flush in spring to early summer. The small florets all have radiating petal-like blades. The tiny fly-away fruits are topped by a stalked ring of barbed to feathery bristles. The leaves form a flat rosette and are variable being entire to shallowly lobed, and usually somewhat bristly but can be hairless. The flower stems often have galls. It a perennial but often acts as an annual in drier climates. It is difficult to distinguish from Smooth Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris glabra) which is an annual. Hybrids between the two species are common.

Stringhalt, a unique disease of horses characterized by spasmodic hyperflexion of one or both hind legs, has been associated with horses eating Hypochaeris radicata (cat's ear, flat weed).

Flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata) has been recorded in numerous conservation areas in Victoria (e.g. Brisbane Ranges National Park, Phillip Island Nature Park and Wilsons Promontory National Park), South Australia (e.g. Marino Conservation Park, Brownhill Creek Recreation Park, Hale Conservation Park, Totness Recreation Park, Cudlee Creek Conservation Park and Eurilla Conservation Park) and New South Wales (e.g. Rawdon Creek Nature Reserve and Kosciuszko National Park). It also appears on local and regional environmental weed lists in Victoria (e.g. Manningham, Knox City and the Goulburn Broken Catchment) and New South Wales (e.g. in the wider Sydney and Blue Mountains region and on the Central Coast).

Spray FireHawk Bioherbicide Concentrate: 50 mL/L of water. Respray when regrowth occurs from roots and/or runners. May require repeated application to obtain long-term weed control.