Ragwort

Ragwort, the common English name of those species of Senecio (q.v.) in which the heads of flowers have a spreading ray, the involucre has small scales at the base, and the leaves are pinnatifid. The British species are large coarse weeds, with erect stem, and yellow flowers; one species, the Common Ragwort (S. Jacobæa), a perennial, is too plentiful in many pastures. It is refused or disliked by horses, oxen, and sheep. It generally disappears from thoroughly drained land, at least after a little labour has been expended in grubbing up its roots. The fresh herbage has been used to dye wool green, but the colour is not permanent.