Senecio vulgaris

(“Common Groundsel.” Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias, enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/139318.)

Common Name(s) Common Groundsel
Scientific Name Senecio vulgaris
Family Asteraceae
Location/Vegetative Zone
Flowering Period Spring
Identifying Characteristics  The leaves are alternating, green, and 2½ to 4 inches in length and 1 inch wide.

Description

  • An invasive weed
  • Leaves
    • Alternating, green
    • 2½ to 4 inches in length and 1 inch wide
    • Covered in soft, smooth, fine hairs.
    • They are rounded and saw-toothed
  • The stems are tubular
  • Flowers
    • Appear in clusters of 8 to 10 cylinder shaped yellow flower heads
  • Flowers in the spring

Misc

  • Regarded as being hazardous to animals and humans.
  • The seeds feed wild birds
    • Used to make chicken and birdseed
  • Rabbits eat leaves and seeds
  • Highly invasive
  • Exists on six continents and is exotic to all fifty states.

Sources

Brenner, Molly. “The Virtuous Weed:: Common Groundsel”. The Metropolitan Field Guide. Web.

“GROUNDSEL- NOT JUST FOR BIRDS! HISTORY, HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF GROUNDSEL”. Herbs- To Treat and Taste. 27 November 2011. Web.

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