Determined according to the botanical key provided in Flora Europaea Vol. 4 (Tutin et al., 1976).
Distribution: Native to South Central and Southeast Europe- Italy including Sardegna and Sicily, Malta, Corse, Greece including Kriti, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Bulgaria according to the Euro+Med PlantBase (source: Greuter, 2006+).
Habitat: In the Osogovo region it is found in open and dry habitats – grasslands, sparse bushland, rocky terrains, clearings of forests in the downy oak-oriental hornbeam belt (Querco-carinetum orientalis macedonicum assosiation), from the lowland up to altitudes of c. 800 m above sea level.
Lifeform: Perennial; Hemicryptophyte according to the Raunkiaer system.
Flowering period: Late spring to early summer (MAY, JUN).
Hypochaeris cretensis– habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– habit. Osogovo, near village of Rajchani, 23.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– habit. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– upper part of plant with capitula. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.Hypochaeris cretensis– upper part of plant with inflorescence. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– upper part of plant with capitula. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– upper part of plant with capitula. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– upper part of plant with capitula. Pedicels are somewhat thickened below the capitulum. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitula. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitulum. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitullum. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitulum. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitulum. Osogovo, near village of Rajchani, 23.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitulum. Osogovo, near village of Rajchani, 23.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitulum with involucre. Osogovo, near village of Rajchani, 23.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitulum with involucre. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– capitula with involucre. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– fruiting capitulum. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– achenes. Osogovo, hilly region near village of Beli, 13.06.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– upper cauline leaves. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– lower cauline leaves. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– plant base. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– plant base. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– basal leaves. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– basal leaves. Osogovo, Hilly region near village of Beli, 24.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– plant base. Osogovo, near village of Rajchani, 23.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski. Hypochaeris cretensis– basal leaves. Osogovo, near village of Rajchani, 23.05.2021. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.