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Groundsel

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Groundsel

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Scientific name: Senecio vulgaris
Groundsel is a 'weed' of cultivated and disturbed ground like field edges, roadside verges and waste ground. It has clusters of yellow flowers that turn fluffy and white as the plant seeds.

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 40cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

January to December

About

Groundsel is an annual weed of cultivated or disturbed ground, popping up along field edges, roadside verges and on waste ground. Branched stems lead to open clusters of yellow flowers that can be seen most of the year, and turn to white, fluffy seed heads. It is these seed heads that led to its Latin name, Senecio, derived from the word for 'old man' - pull the white, fluffy seeds from the flower head and they leave behind a bare, dotted 'scalp'.

What to look for

Groundsel has long, lobed and ragged leaves that are stalked low down the stem, but unstalked further up the stem. The stems branch to clusters of small, yellow flower heads that look like green and yellow tubes; as the plant seeds, these turn fluffy and white.

Where to find

Widespread.

Did you know?

Like other members of the daisy family, Groundsel has 'composite' flower heads, which are made up of lots of tiny flowers grouped together.