Picris
Picris (oxtongues) is a genus in the sunflower family described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753. "Picris" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, such as the grass moth "Diasemia reticularis". "Schinia cardui" feeds exclusively on "P. hieracioides". The genus is widespread across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Description. Erect annual to perennial taprooted herbs, mostly branching, stem and leaves bearing stiff bristly hairs, with rather large, usually corymbose or paniculate heads of yellow flowers. Taxonomy. Taxonomic History. The genus "Picris" was first validly described by Linnaeus in 1753 with the genus  being accepted by a number of secondary sources including Plants of the World Online. Linnaeus initially described four species with "P. hieracioides", "P. echioides", "P. pyrenaica" and "P. asplenioides". In 1913, Britton and Brown proposed "P. asplenioides" as the type species for the genus. Subsequently, in 1930, Hitchcock and Green alternatively proposed "P. hieracioides" as the type species. The Hitchcock and Green proposal was adopted by in 1975 and accepted by in 1992. Lack argued that Linnaeus never saw "P. asplenioides" which Linnaeus regarded as an obscure species and no specimen could be found in the Linnean Herbarium. For this  reason Lack concluded that "P. hieracioides" should be designated as the type species. In 1794, the German botanist Conrad Moench described the genus "Medicusia" and the species "M. aspera". This genus has not been accepted and is considered a synonym of "Picris". "M. aspera" has also been determined to be a synonym of "P. rhagadioloides". Etymology. "Picris" is from the Greek meaning 'bitter', in reference to the bitter taste of some species in the genus.