Heath Groundsel
Senecio sylvaticus
Its seeds are equipped with a fluffy white pappus, acting as tiny parachutes that allow them to ride wind currents for miles to colonize freshly disturbed soil.
- Scientific name
- Senecio sylvaticus
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Senecio
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Acidic soils, heathlands, woodland clearings, disturbed ground, and coniferous forest edges
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, North America (introduced)
- Size
- 15 to 80 cm in height
- Lifespan
- Annual (less than 1 year)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Over-shading as young forests mature and canopy cover closes, though it readily colonizes new clearings.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch, but defensive via toxicity. This plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are toxic to humans and highly dangerous to livestock if ingested. Maintain a safe distance of observation; do not forage or consume. If ingested, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.
Senecio sylvaticus is a species of flowering plant in the aster family. It is variously known as the woodland ragwort , heath groundsel , or mountain common groundsel . It is native to Eurasia, and it can be found in other places, including western and eastern sections of North America, as an introduced species and an occasional roadside weed. It grows best in cool, wet areas. It is an annual herb producing a single erect stem up to 80...
Photo: Jon Sullivan, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/77adf8ee-c675-4ce8-8ca1-e6ef5fe8c151.md