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How to Manage Pests

Identification: Weed Photo Gallery

Common groundsel

Scientific name: Senecio vulgaris (Sunflower Family: Asteraceae)

Life stages of Common groundsel top picture bottom left picture bottom right picture

Click on image to enlarge

DESCRIPTION:
Common groundsel is a nearly ubiquitous winter or summer annual broadleaf, but can grow all year in coastal areas of California. Infestations are most troublesome during cool, moist periods. Cotyledons (seed leaves) are elongate, with a blunt, rounded tip. The first true leaves have shallow teeth; the third and fourth leaves are more deeply lobed. Groundsel grows up to 60 cm (2 feet) tall. Leaves are alternate along the stem and are deeply indented. Upper leaves are attached directly to the stem, but lower leaves have a short stalk. The green leaflike structures surrounding the flower cluster have conspicuous black tips that distinguish groundsel from other weeds in the thistle family.

See UC IPM's Common Groundsel Pest Note for more information.

Broadleaf ID illustration.


Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/WEEDS/common_groundsel.html revised: November 17, 2008. Contact webmaster.