Hieracium avilae

Native to the northern Andes, this perennial herb grows in mountain grasslands and shrublands. In Colombia, it occurs at about 8,900 to 14,300 feet. Upright, sparsely branched stems can reach about three feet tall and are conspicuously hairy. The lance-shaped leaves narrow toward their bases and have small teeth along their margins. Yellow flower heads gather in terminal clusters above the foliage. The small, dry fruits carry a tuft of fine bristles that helps them disperse on the wind. Photographed in Colombia.