NEN Gallery

This annual plant is native to America and was introduced about 200 years ago and spread with the movement of goods along the railways. It is an upright plant growing to 1 to 2 metres in height. It has a central stem branching towards the top of the plant below the flowerheads. The stems are very leafy and softly hairy. The leaves are grey/green in colour they are 4-10cm long and 5-12mm wide. It has basal leaves in a rosette formation. The rosette formation being particularly evident at the juvenile stage. The plant develops from the middle of the rosette and arises from a central stem branching towards the top of the plant. It grows on waste or neglected land, cracks on pavements. Picture taken at Bedford 9th September 2009.