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Common Groundsel

Senecio vulgaris

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
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Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae (Daisy)
Also in this family:
Alpine Blue Sow-thistle, Alpine Cotula, Alpine Fleabane, Alpine Saw-wort, Annual Ragweed, Annual Sunflower, Argentine Fleabane, Autumn Hawkbit, Autumn Oxeye, Beaked Hawksbeard, Beggarticks, Bilbao Fleabane, Black Knapweed, Black-eyed Susan, Blanketflower, Blue Fleabane, Blue Globe-thistle, Bristly Oxtongue, Broad-leaved Cudweed, Broad-leaved Ragwort, Brown Knapweed, Butterbur, Buttonweed, Cabbage Thistle, Canadian Fleabane, Canadian Goldenrod, Carline Thistle, Chalk Knapweed, Chamois Ragwort, Changing Michaelmas Daisy, Chicory, Chinese Mugwort, Chinese Ragwort, Coltsfoot, Common Blue Sow-thistle, Common Cat's-ear, Common Cudweed, Common Daisy, Common Dandelion, Common Fleabane, Common Goldenrod, Common Michaelmas Daisy, Common Mugwort, Common Ragwort, Common Wormwood, Coneflower, Confused Michaelmas Daisy, Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Cornflower, Cotton Thistle, Cottonweed, Creeping Thistle, Daisy Bush, Dwarf Cudweed, Dwarf Thistle, Early Goldenrod, Eastern Groundsel, Eastern Leopardsbane, Elecampane, English Hawkweed, Fen Ragwort, Feverfew, Field Fleawort, Field Wormwood, Fox and Cubs, French Tarragon, Gallant Soldier, Garden Lettuce, Giant Butterbur, Glabrous-headed Hawkweed, Glandular Globe-thistle, Glaucous Michaelmas Daisy, Globe Artichoke, Globe-thistle, Goat's Beard, Golden Ragwort, Golden Samphire, Goldilocks Aster, Grass-leaved Goldenrod, Great Lettuce, Greater Burdock, Greater Knapweed, Grey-headed Hawkweed, Guernsey Fleabane, Hairless Blue Sow-thistle, Hairless Leptinella, Hairy Michaelmas Daisy, Harpur Crewe's Leopardsbane, Hawkweed Oxtongue, Heath Cudweed, Heath Groundsel, Hemp Agrimony, Highland Cudweed, Hoary Mugwort, Hoary Ragwort, Hybrid Knapweed, Intermediate Burdock, Irish Fleabane, Jersey Cudweed, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lance-leaved Hawkweed, Lavender-cotton, Leafless Hawksbeard, Least Lettuce, Leopardplant, Leopardsbane, Leptinella, Lesser Burdock, Lesser Hawkbit, Lesser Sunflower, London Bur-marigold, Magellan Ragwort, Marsh Cudweed, Marsh Hawksbeard, Marsh Ragwort, Marsh Sow-thistle, Marsh Thistle, Meadow Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Mexican Fleabane, Milk Thistle, Mountain Everlasting, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Musk Thistle, Narrow-leaved Cudweed, Narrow-leaved Hawkweed, Narrow-leaved Michaelmas Daisy, Narrow-leaved Ragwort, New England Hawkweed, New Zealand Holly, Nipplewort, Nodding Bur-marigold, Northern Hawksbeard, Norwegian Mugwort, Oxeye Daisy, Oxford Ragwort, Pearly Everlasting, Perennial Cornflower, Perennial Ragweed, Perennial Sow-thistle, Perennial Sunflower, Pineapple Mayweed, Plantain-leaved Leopardsbane, Ploughman's Spikenard, Plymouth Thistle, Pontic Blue Sow-thistle, Pot Marigold, Prickly Lettuce, Prickly Sow-thistle, Purple Coltsfoot, Rayed Tansy, Red Star Thistle, Red-seeded Dandelion, Red-tipped Cudweed, Robin's Plantain, Roman Chamomile, Rough Cocklebur, Rough Hawkbit, Rough Hawksbeard, Russian Lettuce, Safflower, Salsify, Saw-wort, Scented Mayweed, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Aster, Sea Mayweed, Sea Wormwood, Seaside Daisy, Shaggy Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shaggy Soldier, Shasta Daisy, Shetland Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Shrub Ragwort, Sicilian Chamomile, Silver Ragwort, Slender Mugwort, Slender Thistle, Small Cudweed, Small Fleabane, Smooth Cat's-ear, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sow-thistle, Sneezeweed, Sneezewort, Spear Thistle, Spotted Cat's-ear, Spotted Hawkweed, Sticky Groundsel, Stinking Chamomile, Stinking Hawksbeard, Tall Fleabane, Tall Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Tansy, Thin-leaved Sunflower, Trifid Bur-marigold, Tuberous Thistle, Tyneside Leopardplant, Viper's Grass, Wall Lettuce, Welsh Groundsel, Welted Thistle, White Butterbur, White Buttons, Willdenow's Leopardsbane, Winter Heliotrope, Wood Burdock, Wood Ragwort, Woody Fleabane, Woolly Thistle, Yarrow, Yellow Chamomile, Yellow Fox and Cubs, Yellow Oxeye, Yellow Star Thistle, Yellow Thistle, York Groundsel
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Annual
Maximum Size:
40 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Fields, gardens, roadsides, wasteland.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, no petals
 
Loose clusters of cylindrical yellow flowerheads, usually without rays but occasionally having narrow yellow rays. Bracts are narrow and tipped black.
Fruit:
A dark brown, ridged, cylindrical achene, up to 2mm in length. There are hairs along its grooves.
Leaves:
Alternate leaves. The larger lower leaves are short-stalked and the upper ones are stalkless. Pinnate, shiny and covered with matted hairs. It's lobes are coarsely toothed.
Other Names:
Birdseed, Chickenweed, Common Butterweed, Flower of Macarius, Grimsel, Ground Glutton, Groundsel Birdseed, Grundy Swallow, Old-man-in-the-Spring, Ragwort, Simson, Squaw Weed.
Frequency (UK):
Abundant  

Similar Species

Other Information

Summary

Senecio vulgaris, also known as common groundsel, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family. It is native to Europe and Asia, but has been introduced to many other parts of the world. It is often considered a weed because it can quickly spread and establish itself in disturbed areas. The plant has small, yellow flowers that bloom in the late fall and winter, and is generally considered a hardy and easy-to-grow plant. It can grow in a variety of soils and can tolerate partial shade or full sun.

Blog

Common Groundsel, scientifically known as Senecio vulgaris, is a weed commonly found in gardens, fields, and waste grounds all over the world. Despite its diminutive size, it is a tough and persistent plant that can cause significant problems for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers.

Appearance and Identification

Common Groundsel is an annual plant that typically grows up to 30 cm tall, although it can sometimes reach up to 80 cm in height. It has a thin, erect stem that branches out near the top, and its leaves are deeply lobed and toothed, with a slightly hairy surface. The flowers are yellow and small, with a diameter of around 4-5 mm. They are grouped together in clusters at the end of the stems and appear from April to October.

Common Groundsel is often mistaken for other plants in the Senecio genus, such as Ragwort or Tansy Ragwort. However, its distinctive lobed leaves and small, clustered yellow flowers help distinguish it from other species.

Ecology and Habitat

Common Groundsel is a cosmopolitan weed, meaning that it is found all over the world. It is most commonly found in areas that have been disturbed or are regularly cultivated, such as gardens, fields, pastures, and roadsides. It can also be found in waste ground, along fence lines, and in cracks in concrete and pavements.

Common Groundsel is a weed that prefers cool, damp conditions, and is often found growing in the shade. It is a prolific seed producer and can produce up to 1500 seeds per plant. Its seeds are wind-dispersed and can remain viable in the soil for several years, which makes it difficult to control.

Uses and Toxicity

Common Groundsel has been used medicinally for centuries and was traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments, such as rheumatism, colic, and respiratory problems. However, it is toxic to both humans and livestock, and its use as a medicinal plant is no longer recommended.

The plant contains alkaloids, which can cause liver damage and other health problems if ingested. Ingestion of large quantities of Common Groundsel can be fatal to livestock, particularly horses, and it is therefore important to control its growth in areas where livestock graze.

Control and Management

Common Groundsel is a difficult weed to control, as it is a prolific seed producer and its seeds can remain viable in the soil for several years. The best way to control its growth is to prevent it from setting seed by removing the plants before they flower.

Hand pulling or hoeing can be effective in small areas, but in larger infestations, herbicides may be necessary. Glyphosate-based herbicides are effective, but care should be taken to ensure that other plants in the area are not affected.

Common Groundsel is a persistent and problematic weed that can cause significant problems for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers. While it has some traditional medicinal uses, it is toxic to both humans and livestock, and its growth should be controlled to prevent its spread.

More Information about Common Groundsel

Common Groundsel is considered an invasive weed in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Australia. It competes with other plants for nutrients, light, and water, and can quickly dominate an area if left unchecked. It is particularly problematic in agricultural settings, where it can reduce crop yields and contaminate animal feed.

One of the reasons that Common Groundsel is such a successful weed is its ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions. It can grow in soils with low fertility and high acidity, and is tolerant of drought, frost, and shade. It is also able to germinate throughout the year, which means that it can produce multiple generations in a single growing season.

Despite its reputation as a nuisance plant, Common Groundsel does have some ecological value. It provides a source of nectar for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and its seeds are an important food source for birds such as finches and sparrows. However, its negative impacts on agriculture and the environment far outweigh any potential benefits.

Controlling the spread of Common Groundsel requires a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical methods. In addition to hand pulling and herbicide application, measures such as crop rotation, soil cultivation, and proper irrigation can help reduce its growth. Good sanitation practices, such as cleaning tools and equipment after use, can also help prevent its spread to new areas.

Common Groundsel is a weed that poses significant challenges for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers. Its ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions, combined with its prolific seed production and long-lived seeds, make it a persistent and difficult weed to control. However, with the right management strategies, it is possible to prevent its spread and minimize its impact on the environment.

In addition to its negative impact on agriculture, Common Groundsel is also known to cause health problems in humans and livestock. The plant contains a variety of toxic compounds, including alkaloids and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause liver damage, respiratory problems, and other health issues.

Consumption of Common Groundsel by livestock, particularly horses and cattle, can result in liver failure and death. This is because the toxic compounds in the plant can accumulate in the liver over time, leading to chronic liver damage. In humans, ingestion of Common Groundsel can cause nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Due to the potential health risks associated with Common Groundsel, it is important to take precautions when handling or removing the plant. Wear gloves and protective clothing, and avoid inhaling any dust or particles from the plant. Dispose of the plant material carefully, and do not use it as animal feed or compost.

If you suspect that your livestock may have consumed Common Groundsel, contact your veterinarian immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the chances of a successful outcome.

In conclusion, while Common Groundsel may have some ecological value, its negative impact on agriculture, the environment, and human and animal health far outweigh any potential benefits. It is important to take steps to control its growth and prevent its spread, and to take precautions when handling or removing the plant. By working together, we can help minimize the impact of this troublesome weed.

Facts about Common Groundsel

  • Common Groundsel is an invasive weed found in many parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Australia.
  • It can grow in soils with low fertility and high acidity, and is tolerant of drought, frost, and shade.
  • The plant produces toxic compounds, including alkaloids and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause health problems in humans and livestock.
  • Common Groundsel can reduce crop yields, contaminate animal feed, and compete with other plants for resources.
  • Controlling the spread of Common Groundsel requires a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical methods.

Common Groundsel is an invasive weed that poses significant challenges for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers. It is able to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions and produces toxic compounds that can cause health problems in humans and livestock. The plant can reduce crop yields, contaminate animal feed, and compete with other plants for resources. Controlling its growth requires a combination of mechanical, cultural, and chemical methods, and it is important to take precautions when handling or removing the plant.


Video

Common Groundsel filmed in Lancashire on the 10th July 2022.

 

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Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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