Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Senecio squalidus

Family

Asteraceae

Flowering season

April to November

English distribution

It is found throughout the country, but is less common

in the Northwest and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Oxford Ragwort

Habitat

It is a neophyte, which escaped from Oxford Botanic

Gardens in the 1790s, and spread widely in the 19th

century during the expansion of the railways.

It grows on waste ground, pathways, railways, walls,

hedgerows, gardens, grasslands and shingle. It is

widespread on drier soils.

Description

Oxford Ragwort is an erect to prostrate, perennial herb,

growing up

to 50cm.

The flowerheads are up to 2cm across, with 12 to

15 bright yellow ray florets (ligules) up to 1cm.

There are 21 inner bacts and up to 13 outer bracts, all

black-tipped.

Lower leaves have winged petioles and the upper leaves

half clasp the stem.

Leaves are usually deeply pinnately lobed, but this is

rather variable.

Stems are branched, grooved,  mainly green but red

and woody

at the base.