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Field Fleawort

Tephroseris integrifolia

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.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

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 Groundsel, 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 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, Treasureflower, Trifid Bur-marigold, Tuberous Thistle, Tyneside Leopardplant, Viper's Grass, Wall Lettuce, Welsh Groundsel, Welted Thistle, White African Daisy, 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:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
50 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Grassland, meadows, mountains, rocky places, sea cliffs.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, 10 petals
 
Flowers appear inside clusters. The flowers are yellow and daisy-like, measuring about 2cm across. Usually the disc florets are dark yellow. Pollinated by insects.
Fruit:
The fruit is an achene.
Leaves:
An unbranched downy perennial with wrinkly, oval leaves in a basal rosette. The leaves are cottony beneath and hairless above. Usually the leaves are toothed and rounded at the ends. Biennial or perennial.
Other Names:
Alpine Daisy, Alpine Fleabane.
Frequency (UK):
Unusual  

Other Information

Summary

Tephroseris integrifolia, also known as alpine fleabane or alpine daisy, is a species of wildflower in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is native to alpine regions of Europe and Asia, specifically the Himalayas, the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Carpathians.

Tephroseris integrifolia is a small perennial herb that typically grows to around 10-15cm tall, with a woody base and hairy stems. The leaves are basal and entire, usually lance-shaped and often slightly hairy. The plant produces small, white or pink composite flowerheads that bloom from spring to summer. The flowers are typically 1-2 cm in diameter.

This plant prefers to grow in well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade and it can be found in alpine meadows, rock crevices and rocky outcrops at high elevations (above 1500m).

Tephroseris integrifolia is propagated by seed and can be propagated by root cuttings taken in late autumn. It's hardy to USDA zones 4-7. It can also be grown in rock gardens and as a border plant. The plant is not known to have any specific medicinal properties, and it is considered safe to grow and handle.


Blog

Field Fleawort, also known as Tephroseris integrifolia, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is commonly found in alpine and subalpine meadows, rocky slopes, and cliffs.

Appearance and Characteristics

Field Fleawort grows up to 20-50 cm tall and has a basal rosette of leaves that are oval or elliptical in shape and have a toothed margin. The stem is usually hairy and has small, yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom in the summer months. The leaves of Field Fleawort contain a bitter compound that is believed to be an insect repellent, hence the name 'fleawort'.

Uses

Field Fleawort has been traditionally used in herbal medicine for its various medicinal properties. The plant contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, making it useful for the treatment of conditions such as arthritis, muscle pain, and inflammation. The plant has also been used as a diuretic and as a treatment for kidney stones and other urinary tract disorders.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Field Fleawort is also commonly used as an ornamental plant in gardens and landscaping. Its yellow daisy-like flowers make it a popular choice for adding color and texture to gardens, especially in alpine or rock gardens.

Conservation

Despite its wide distribution, Field Fleawort is considered a rare plant in some areas and is listed as an endangered or threatened species in several countries. This is due to habitat loss and degradation, as well as overgrazing and trampling by livestock and other animals.

Conservation efforts to protect and preserve Field Fleawort include the establishment of protected areas, the control of grazing and trampling, and the cultivation of the plant in gardens and nurseries to prevent the collection of wild plants.

Ecology

Field Fleawort is adapted to alpine and subalpine environments and is well-suited to harsh conditions such as cold temperatures, strong winds, and rocky soil. The plant is known for its ability to tolerate extreme environmental conditions and can survive in nutrient-poor soil, making it an important component of alpine and subalpine ecosystems. Field Fleawort also plays a role in supporting biodiversity, as its flowers are an important food source for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and flies.

Cultural Significance

Field Fleawort has been used in traditional medicine by various cultures throughout its range. For example, in traditional Tibetan medicine, the plant is used to treat conditions such as liver disease, skin disorders, and digestive problems. In Europe, Field Fleawort was used as a remedy for wounds and insect bites, and its leaves were sometimes used as a substitute for tobacco.

In addition to its medicinal uses, Field Fleawort has also been used in cultural practices such as divination and magic. In some cultures, the plant was believed to have protective properties and was used in amulets and talismans to ward off evil spirits.

Propagation and Cultivation

Field Fleawort can be propagated from seed, which should be sown in the fall or early spring. The seeds require a period of cold stratification before germination, which can be achieved by storing them in the refrigerator for several weeks before sowing. The plant prefers well-drained, rocky soil with a neutral to alkaline pH, and should be planted in full sun or partial shade. The plant can be propagated through division as well, with the best time for this being in the early spring.

In cultivation, Field Fleawort is a low-maintenance plant that requires little watering or fertilization once established. It can be grown in rock gardens or in containers and is an excellent choice for gardens in high-altitude or cold climates.

Threats and Conservation

Field Fleawort is considered a rare plant in some areas and is listed as an endangered or threatened species in several countries. The main threats to the plant are habitat loss and degradation, as well as overgrazing and trampling by livestock and other animals. In addition, climate change is also a concern, as rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns may affect the plant's ability to survive in its natural habitats.

Conservation efforts to protect and preserve Field Fleawort include the establishment of protected areas, the control of grazing and trampling, and the cultivation of the plant in gardens and nurseries to prevent the collection of wild plants. In addition, monitoring of populations and research on the plant's ecology and reproductive biology are important for understanding and addressing the threats facing the species.

Conclusion

Field Fleawort is a valuable plant with a rich cultural history, many traditional medicinal uses, and an important role in supporting biodiversity in alpine and subalpine ecosystems. As a rare and threatened species, it is important to protect and conserve the plant and its natural habitats through a combination of conservation measures, cultivation, and research. By doing so, we can ensure that this fascinating plant and its many benefits are preserved for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.


Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map