NEN Gallery

This plant found on the old railway cutting at Stevington has bright yellow flowers similar to Common Ragwort. There are usually 13 outer ray florets. The pointed bracts around the flower heads have black tips. The stems are upright hairless. The lower leaves narrow to a short stalk the upper leaves clasp the stem. The leaves are deeply divided and ragged in appearance. This plant was originally an escapee from Oxford Botanic Gardens and spread along the railway lines. It is now common on banks and grass verges. It flowers May to December and produces seeds with parachute hairs. Picture taken at Old Warden Railway Cutting, Bedfordshire 15th July 2006.