Narrow-leaved Ragwort - Senecio inaequidens

A shrubby herb to about 60 cm high. The plant consists of a highly branched stem, woody at its base, with many, mostly slender, linear leaves (1 to 7 mm in width), and lemon-yellow flower heads up to 25 mm in diameter. The species displays a fair amount of variability in leaf shape and width.

Other ragworts

Linear leaf-segments, less than 5mm wide

Photograph of the whole plant, showing leaves as well as flowers (which are very similar to the flowers of other Senecio)

Alongside major roads, railway tracks, car parks, pavement cracks, waste places and demolition sites. It can also be found in more natural habitats, particularly close to the sea.

Perennial.

Becoming well established in Britain. Stace (1997) described it as naturalised in one site in Kent and accurately predicted that it would soon spread. Although still concentrated in southern England, this plant is now found here and there all over England, north Wales and even in one or two places in Scotland

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland but possibly increasing in our area. It was not recorded in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire. There were only three records for this species in Leicestershire up to 2010.  In the current checklist (Jeeves 2011) it is listed as Alien; casual