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Flowers: |
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Pappus: ![]() |
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status
flower
inner
morph
petals
(0, den)petals
(7-11, hib)stem
stem
toxicity
GROUNDSEL
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GROUNDSEL
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RAYED GROUNDSEL
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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:
Like most Senecio species it contains Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, most of which are poisonous.
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vulgaris ![]() |
⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ |
Asteraceae ![]() |
![]() Senecio (Ragworts) |
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