GROUNDSEL

Senecio vulgaris

Daisy & Dandelion Family [Asteraceae]

Flowers:
month8jan month8feb month8mar month8march month8apr month8april month8may month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept month8oct month8nov month8dec

Pappus: pappusZpossible (white, simple)
pappus8jan pappus8feb pappus8mar pappus8march pappus8apr pappus8april pappus8may pappus8jun pappus8june pappus8jul pappus8july pappus8aug pappus8sep pappus8sept pappus8oct pappus8nov pappus8dec

status
statusZnative
 		 flower
flower8yellow
 		 inner
inner8yellow
 		 morph
morph8actino
 		 petals
petalsZ0
(0, den)		 petals
petalsZ9
(7-11, hib)		 stem
stem8round
 		 stem
stem8ribbed
 		 toxicity
toxicityZmedium
 

GROUNDSEL
Senecio vulgaris ssp. denticulatus


Sorry, no photos as yet


GROUNDSEL
Senecio vulgaris ssp. vulgaris


Sorry, no photos as yet


RAYED GROUNDSEL
Senecio vulgaris ssp. vulgaris var. hibernicus

23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
A very variable plant, 10 to 30cm tall, leaves sparse and randomly byt angularly lobed. Has fewer leaves than the similar Oxford Ragwort.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Flowers in small loose clusters near the top of the plant. The flowers of ssp. hibernicus are rayed.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
The flower clusters are in small groups of clusters of clusters, perhaps 3 branches which branch again into a small loose cluster of flowers.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Flowers on thin petioles (stalks) which may droop somewhat.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
The rayed form of Groundsel is a little like Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) but the petals (actually 'ligules') are shorter.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Like Oxford Ragwort the flowers have black-tiped bracts, long bracts which reach the petals, and much shorter ones of variable length.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Short yellow petals (ligules) numbering between 7 and 11 in total surrounding dozens of concolorant disc-florets in the centre.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
The long and short of it: green black-tipped bracts forning the calyx.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Bracts linear terminating in a black triangular end.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Pappus white, still surrounded by the longest bracts.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Pappus white with simple hairs from above, bracts black-tipped.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Fewer leaves than Oxford Ragwort. Lower leaves more deeply lobed than those of Groundsel.


23rd May 2013, East Lancs Rd, Moorside, Gtr M/cr. Photo: © RWD
Leaves with very slightly recurved margins. Middle and upper leaves may have auricles clasping the stem.

Not to be semantically confused with : Ground-Elder (Aegopodium podagraria) [an umbellifer], Ground-Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) or Ground Pine (Ajuga chamaopitys) [both Dead-nettles]

The rayed form is easily mistaken for : Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus)

The un-rayed forms are easily mistaken for other Groundsels.

Has two sub-species with one of those having two varieties:

  • Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris ssp. denticulatus) which has extensive web-like hairs. Some specimens may also have rayed flowers.
  • Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) which has no or fewer web-like hairs, as does Rayed Groundsel below.
  • Rayed Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris ssp. vulgaris var. hibernicus) with 7-11 rays (petals / ligules) which are longer than those of Sticky Groundsel (Senecio viscosus) [which has sticky glandular hairs] and shorter than those of Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus). There is evidence that this rayed Groundsel has arisen by introgression from Oxford Ragwort.

Like most Senecio species it contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, most of which are poisonous.

  Senecio vulgaris  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Asteraceae  

Distribution
family8Daisy & Dandelion family8Asteraceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Senecio
Senecio
(Ragworts)

RAYED GROUNDSEL

Senecio vulgaris var. hibernicus

Daisy & Dandelion Family [Asteraceae]