Common Groundsel - introduced (*Senecio vulgaris)

Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family).

Native of Europe.

Occurrence: Scattered weed of disturbed areas and gardens.

Identification:

• the plant is cottony on the stems
• the leaves are irregularly and deeply lobed
• the flowers are cylindrical with yellow petals that protrude beyond the surrounding green bracts
• the green bracts surrounding the petals are usually black-tipped
• there are usually about 20 bracts
• the flower heads are clustered at the ends of the branches.

Common Groundsel is an annual.

Similar species: There are several groundsels, including natives with divided leaves and non-radiating petals. Common Groundsel is a stockier, less tall plant tha Annual Fireweed.

Groundsel: from a corruption of the old Anglo-saxon word groundeswelge meaning ground-swallower, referring to its weedy habit.

Photo tpp right: Common Groundsel. Market St, Kyneton.
2, 3: Specimens in a Castlemaine Garden.
Top R: Common Groundsel. A lawn weed. Hunter Street, Castlemaine.