Asteraceae

Senecio jacobaea

Common Names: Ragwort

Plant Form: Erect perennial or biennial herb. Size: Up to 80 cm tall. Stem: Unbranched below flowers, cobwebby when young. Leaves: Up to 12 cm long, deeply divided, smooth above, cobwebby underneath. Lower leaves with large end lobe (lyrate). Flowers: Many yellow daisy flowerheads held in clusters. With 12-15 petals per head, up to 9 mm long. Fruit and Seeds: 2 mm long, with parachuting hairs 5-6 mm long. Habitat: Grasslands, roadsides, disturbed places, urban bushland. Distinguishing Features: Differs from most other Groundsels (Senecio species) in the combination of stems unbranched below flowers, leaf shape, and numerous flowerheads with rays.