Plants 9-20(-35+) cm. Stems proximally piloso-hirsute (hairs 1-2+ mm), sometimes stipitate-glandular as well, distally stellate-pubescent and stipitate-glandular (not piloso-hirsute). Leaves: basal 5-8+, cauline 0(-2+); blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 15-40 × 5-12 mm, lengths 3-6+ times widths, bases cuneate, margins entire, apices rounded to acute, abaxial faces glabrous or piloso-hirsute (hairs 1-3+ mm), adaxial glabrous or piloso-hispid (hairs 1-3+ mm), sometimes stellate-pubescent as well. Heads usually 2-5+ in ± umbelliform arrays, sometimes borne singly. Peduncles stellate-pubescent and stipitate-glandular (not piloso-hirsute). Calyculi: bractlets 9-13+. Involucres hemispheric, 6-8 mm. Phyllaries 16-21+, apices acuminate, abaxial faces stellate-pubescent and stipitate-glandular, sometimes piloso-hirsute (hairs 0.8-1.5+) as well. Florets 40-60+; corollas yellow, 8+ mm. Cypselae columnar, 1-2.5 mm; pappi of 25-40, white bristles in 1 series, 4-5 mm.

Flowering May-Jul. Pastures, fields; 10+ m; introduced; N.S.; N.Y.; Europe.

According to A. E. Roland and M. Zinck (1998), Hieracium auricula Linnaeus and Pilosella auricula (Linnaeus) Schultz-Bipontinus have been misapplied to plants here called H. lactucella (see also discussion at 5. H. caespitosum).