Jacobaea vulgaris aka Jacobaea

Jacobaea vulgaris, also known as ragwort or common ragwort, is a very common wild flower in the Asteraceae family. Native to northern Eurasia, it is often found in dry, open places and has become a widespread weed in other regions. This upright biennial or short-lived perennial plant can reach a height of 1.5m, although it is usually much shorter. It has dark green, deeply lobed leaves that form a low rosette in the winter, and large clusters of yellow, daisy-like flowers that bloom from mid-summer to mid-autumn. The plant is sometimes considered an invasive species and a noxious weed in certain countries, including the UK where it is native. This is due to its toxicity to cattle and horses. However, it is also valued for its nectar production, which provides food for insect pollinators. Jacobaea vulgaris has lyre-shaped, pinnate leaves and develops a stem with inflorescences in its second year. The yellow flower heads have a diameter of 15 to 25 millimeters, and the plant can reach a height of 30 to 100 centimeters. The stem is reddish brown, branched, and sparsely hairy. The flowers are single flower-like capitula surrounded by involucral bracts, with yellow ray-florets and small tubular disk florets. The leaves are alternate, with basal leaves and lower stem leaves being short-stalked and upper leaves stalkless. The basal leaves are large and usually wither by the time the plant flowers. The fruit is a round, ridged achene with unbranched hairs on the tip. Jacobaea vulgaris can be found in various habitats such as roadsides, waste grounds, railway embankments, and meadows. It typically flowers from July to September and should be approached with caution as it may be poisonous.