ragwort

[ rag-wurt, -wawrt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of various composite plants of the genus Senecio, as S. jacobaea, of the Old World, having yellow flowers and irregularly lobed leaves, or S. aureus golden ragwort, of North America, also having yellow flowers.

ragwort

/ ˈræɡˌwɜːt /

any of several plants of the genus Senecio , esp S. jacobaea of Europe, that have yellow daisy-like flowers: family Asteraceae (composites) See also groundsel

Origin of ragwort¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; rag ¹, wort ²

Yes, I am convinced of it; it was that bunch of yellow ragwort on the mantelpiece in my bedroom.

The yellow flower-heads are not so densely crowded as in the Common Ragwort, and have longer stalks.

Moths of the second generation often abound at the sugar patches, and on ragwort blossom.

The male moths are sometimes seen flying in the sunshine and visiting the flowers of thistles, ragwort, etc.

He was in the act of rising to examine the spot, but he sank down directly, ducking his head behind a great tuft of ragwort.

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