Edge/ King Devil

COMMON NAME: King Devil

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Yellow King Devil

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hieracium caepitosum

FAMILY: Asteraceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS:  Introduced from Europe

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: 10 to 36 inches

FLOWERING TIME: May to September                       

FRUITING TIME: July to late October

DISTRIBUTION: Nova Scotia to Georgia & west to Tennessee ~ weed in disturbed habitats on the east coast of Canada and USA            

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Short rhizomes ~ Leaves basal, narrow, elliptical ~ Flower blackish in groups of 5 to 30

GENERAL INFORMATION: This large family (Asteraceae), commonly called the Aster Family, consists of 1,314 genera and 21,000 species of herbs, shrubs, climbers and a few trees is found chiefly in temperate and subtropical regions.  The plants are of value to man as ornamentals; a few are insecticides and fish poisons. The genus Hieracium is from the Greek hierax meaning “hawk”.  It was reported that hawks ate the plants in this genus to sharpen their eyesight. Other plants in this genus have medicinal value.  Ancient people used these plants to treat stomach aliments and applied a preparation to the skin for inflammations.  The root was reported to help the bite of a scorpion, if applied to the puncture. Rattlesnake-Weed (Hieracium venosum) was considered by Native Americans to been an infallible cure for the bite of rattle-snakes.  They chewed the leaves and applied them to the wound. Upland game birds, small mammals and browsers (deer, for example) eat the leaves and seeds of the plants in this genus.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.