groundsel, Common, Senecio vulgaris L.
Weed Control Options 
Life Cycle
Annual.Propagation
Reproducing by seed.Stems
Stems erect or somewhat reclining, often branched, 10-60cm high, smooth, somewhat fleshy.Leaves
Leaves alternate (1 per node), slightly fleshy, variable in shape from smooth and almost without teeth to shallowly or deeply lobed, with the lobes finely to coarsely and irregularly toothed; lower leaves stalked, upper ones stalkless and often clasping the stem.Flowers and Fruit
Flower heads stalked in clusters at the end of stems and branches; each flower head 5-10mm across, cylindrical or conic, without ray florets; disk florets yellowish; involucral bracts (surrounding each flower head) small, overlapping, usually with distinct black tips; seeds small, short-hairy, with a prominent, white, hairy pappus. Flowers from June to late autumn.Habitat
Common groundsel occurs throughout Ontario, often very abundantly, in gardens, row crops, waste places and roadsides.Distinguishing Features
Young plants can be distinguished by their irregularly lobed and toothed leaves without white milky juice; older plants by their small conic-cylindrical flower heads with black-tipped involucral bracts around the base of each head.Media Items
Figure 1: Mature plant Top
Figure 2: Cotyledon Top
Figure 3: Mature leaf Top
Figure 4: Mature plant with flowering and mature fruit Top
Figure 5: Yellow flower head with involucral bracts with the distinctive black tips Top
Figure 6: Seed head with white hairy pappus Top