Senecio vulgaris L. Groundsel

Senecio vulgaris L. - Groundsel

Scientific Description:

Erect annual (sometimes biennial) up to 50 cm. Stems and leaves ± glabrous to sparsely arachnoid. Basal and lower cauline leaves petiolate, oblong to obovate, pinnatifid, lobes dentate; upper cauline similar but amplexicaul, auriculate, oblong. Capitula discoid, 0.4−0.5 cm broad, subsessile. Involucre cylindrical; phyllaries 6−8 mm, linear, glabrous, often black−tipped. Calycular bracts 2−3 mm, lanceolate, black-tipped or sometimes completely black, overlapping. Ligules absent; disc flowers yellow. Achenes 1.5−2.5 mm, densely adpressed-hairy between ribs. Pappus 5−7 mm, white.

Flowering time: March−August.

Habitat: Sandy and waste places, fields, macchie, s.l.−700 m.

Reference:
Matthews VA (1975). Senecio vulgaris L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 5: 165.

Public Description:

Senecio vulgaris, known as “groundsel” or “old-man-in-the-spring”, is distributed in Asia, Europe and North Africa. It is an annual or biennial herb with yellow flowers, and grows up to 50 cm in length. It blooms between March and August and is found in sandy and waste places, fields and macchie. This plant is toxic to humans and some mammals. The toxin affects the liver and has a cumulative affect in human. On the other hand, rabbits are often fed with this plant and are not harmed. Various birds also eat the seeds and leaves of the plant.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Senecio+vulgaris, Accessed date: 22.01.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senecio_vulgaris/, Accessed date: 22.01.2016.

Budak Ü (2012). Senecio L. In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 199–201.