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ragwort

American  
[rag-wurt, -wawrt] / ˈrægˌwɜrt, -ˌwɔrt /

noun

  1. 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 British  
/ ˈræɡˌwɜːt /

noun

  1. 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ragwort

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Once, while cycling to meet a friend at a pub, England spied 50 caterpillars on a ragwort plant.

From Science Magazine

An impenetrable tangle of tansy ragwort, a noxious weed toxic to people and livestock, crowds the fence line.

From Seattle Times

A year after the deer were excluded, drifts of golden ragwort appeared in spring, followed by blue mistflower in late summer.

From Washington Post

By 2008, Knepp was suffused by weeds such as ragwort, whose vivid yellow flowers are great for pollinators but can kill livestock in the rare event that they are eaten in large amounts.

From The Guardian

When I dismount from my ragwort steed, I head to the palace.

From Literature