Common Groundsel: Senecio vulgaris
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Weed Description: A winter or summer
annual with lobed leaves, yellow leaves and a white 'puff-ball' seedhead like that of
dandelion. Common groundsel is primarily a weed of landscapes, nursery crops,
greenhouses, and occasionally agronomic crops. It is distributed primarily in the
northern United States. Stems: Branched, without hairs, ranging from 4 to 20 inches in height. Stems are capable of rooting at the nodes. |
| Leaves: Arranged alternately along
the stem, usually without hairs but occasionally with a few hairs. Leaves have
deeply lobed margins. Roots: A taproot and a fibrous root system. Flowers: Occur in clusters at the ends of stems. Individual flowers are approximately 1/2 inch in diameter and are yellow in color. |
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Fruit: A red to brown achene
with soft white hairs that helps in wind dispersal. Fruit form a 'puff-ball' like
that of dandelion. Identifying Characteristics: The deeply lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and 'puff-ball' seedhead are all characteristics that help in the identification of common groundsel. |