Senecio jacobaea
Ragwort

Uses

Toxic parts

All parts of the plant are poisonous^[1]^[2]. The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, in isolation these substances are highly toxic to the liver and have a cumulative affect even when the whole plant is consumed^[3]^[4].

Ragwort does not accumulate in the liver. It is the damage it causes to the liver that is cumulative, due to the effect that the alkoloids have on the liver. A horse needs to eat between 5% and 25% of its body weight in order for it to be lethal, although it is not known over what period of time. Horses won't graze on ragwort unless they are not eating anything else. The biggest danger is if it is baled with hay in its dried form, which is still toxic. As toxicity goes, ragwort is not classed as 'highly toxic', which is a defined term that means it has have a serious effect when the equivalent of only 5% of body weight is consumed. Due to the toxicity entering the bodies of cinnabar moth caterpillars, it is poisonous to birds, with the exception of the cuckoo which likes these caterpillars very much and is unharmed by them. Ragwort is a very beneficial plant for countless insects.

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Senecio jacobaea.

Material uses

A good green dye is obtained from the leaves, though it is not very permanent^[1]^[5]. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers when alum is used as a mordant^[1]^[5]^[6]. Brown and orange can also be obtained^[6].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant is astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue and expectorant^[7]^[8]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use^[7]. Use with caution^[8], when applied internally it can cause severe damage to the liver^[7]. See also the notes above on toxicity.

An emollient poultice is made from the leaves^[1]. The juice of the plant is cooling and astringent, it is used as a wash in burns, sores, cancerous ulcers and eye inflammations^[1]. It makes a good gargle for ulcerated mouths and throats and is also said to take away the pain of a bee sting^[1]. Caution is advised here since the plant is poisonous and some people develop a rash from merely touching this plant[K]. A decoction of the root is said to be good for treating internal bruises and wounds^[1].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant^[7]. It is used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea and other female complaints, internal haemorrhages and other internal disorders^[7].

Unknown part

Astringent

Diaphoretic

Diuretic

Emmenagogue

Expectorant

Homeopathy

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

A noxious weed, it doesn't need any help in spreading itself about.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Senecio jacobaea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Succeeding on all but the poorest soils, this plant is a declared noxious weed in Britain spreading freely by seed. It should not be cultivated other than in controlled conditions for scientific research. Ragwort can be eradicated by pulling it up just before it comes into flower, or by cutting it down as the flowers begin to open (this latter may need to be repeated about six weeks later)^[1]. Ragwort is a good food plant for the caterpillars of many butterfly and moth species, and is one of only two species that provide food for cinnabar moth caterpillars.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Senecio jacobaea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Senecio jacobaea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3^1.4^1.5^1.6^1.7^1.8^1.9 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 ()
? Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-35666-3 ()
? Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 ()
? Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 ()
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 ()
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 ()
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 ()
? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press ()
? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ()

"image:Jacobskruiskruid bloeiende plant Senecio jacobaea.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-4-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2^1.3^1.4^1.5^1.6^1.7^1.8^1.9 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 ()

[PFAFimport-19-2] ? Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-35666-3 ()

[PFAFimport-65-3] ? Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 ()

[PFAFimport-254-4] ? Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 ()

[PFAFimport-115-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()

[PFAFimport-168-6] ? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 ()

[PFAFimport-9-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 ()

[PFAFimport-21-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 ()

[PFAFimport-17-9] ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press ()

[PFAFimport-200-10] ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ()

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

Article is incomplete	False +
Article requires citations	False +
Article requires cleanup	False +
Belongs to family	Compositae +
Belongs to genus	Senecio +
Has binomial name	Senecio jacobaea +
Has common name	Ragwort +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has fertility type	Self fertile +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone	5 +
Has image	Jacobskruiskruid bloeiende plant Senecio jacobaea.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has material part	Unknown part +
Has material use	Dye +
Has mature height	1 +
Has mature width	0.5 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Astringent +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Emmenagogue +, Expectorant + and Homeopathy +
Has primary image	Jacobskruiskruid bloeiende plant Senecio jacobaea.jpg +
Has search name	senecio jacobaea + and ragwort +
Has shade tolerance	Light shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preference	Sandy +, Loamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomic rank	Species +
Has taxonomy name	Senecio jacobaea +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated	No +
PFAF edible use notes migrated	Yes +
PFAF material use notes migrated	No +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated	No +
PFAF propagation notes migrated	No +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated	No +
Tolerates air pollution	False +
Tolerates maritime exposure	False +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	False +
Tolerates wind	False +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.	Senecio jacobaea +, Senecio jacobaea +, Senecio jacobaea +, Senecio jacobaea +, Senecio jacobaea +, Senecio jacobaea + and Senecio jacobaea +

Uses

Toxic parts

Edible uses

Material uses

Unknown part

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Unknown part

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Forage

Shelter

Propagation

Cultivation

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

Polycultures & Guilds

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

Subspecies

Full Data

References

About Practical Plants

Our thanks to...

MediaWiki & SMW

Contact & Social

Help!

Documents

Page Info