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| Common Ragwort - Senecio jacobaea |
The Common Ragwort usually considered to be a biennial, is noticeably prolific this year with heavy flowering having commenced in June.
A single plant can produce over 150,000 white downy seeds, which are carried away by the wind, and which can remain viable in the soil for up to 15 years.
All parts of the plant contain alkaloids that are toxic to cattle, deer, pigs, horses and goats’, causing liver damage and death is slow often occurring months after ingestion.
Sheep are less affected, but should not consume the weed as the liver damage can be cumulative.
The foliage has a distinctive unpleasant odour when crushed so poisoning by grazing is rare as it is instinctively avoided.
If the plants are carelessly cut and left around to wilt, they become palatable however the alkaloids are still potent, so grazing animals can be poisoned.
Ragwort on your own property should therefore be disposed of intelligently.
If it is noticed in highway verges this can be reported to the Highways Contact Centre on 0845 603 563. |
