Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Senecio glastifolius

Other names

Holly-leaved Senecio, Pink Ragwort

Family

Asteraceae

Flowering season

April to June

English distribution

It is mainly found in the Isles of Scilly

For a map see the BSBI distribution map for Woad-leaved

Ragwort

Habitat

It is a neophyte from South Africa which was first grown

in the UK in 1970s.

It is grown in the Sub-tropical Gardens on Tresco, Isles

of Scilly, and has escaped and become naturalised on

sand dunes and in woodlands.

In Australia and the USA it is considered to be an invasive,

alien weed. It spreads readily, both by wind-blown seed

and fragmentation. Because it is so attractive, It has been

called the poster boy of weeds

Description

Woad-leaved Ragwort is a colourful, robust annual or

perennial herb growing up to 1m.

The pink flowerheads are up to 5cm across.

The ray florets have purple/pink ligules up to 18mm.

Disc florets are yellow.

Bracts have pointed black tips.

The seeds are dispersed on a pappus made up of

simple hairs.

The leaves are up to 15cm long and 2,5cm wide, coarsely

toothed, sessile and slightly clasping the stem.

They start off green but turn brown and purplish.

The stems are erect and rather woody.