What Is Ragwort?
Ragwort or common ragwort (Jacobaea Vulgaris, syn. Senecio jacobaea), is a divisive common wildflower in the countryside that usually grows in open places and fields where it’s dry.
This bright yellow daisy-like plant has a reputation to be a poisonous weed. Like many wildflowers, ragwort has a toxic effect on animals like horses and cattle. On the other hand, common ragwort is very important for ecology.
The yellow flower heads of this plant attract bees, the cinnabar moth, and other insects, who distribute the nectar produced by the ragwort.
Description of Ragwort (Jacobaea Vulgaris)
Common ragwort is a tall plant that has clusters of bright yellow flattened flowers.
It’s a biennial plant that has a long flowering period lasting from the summer, in June, to fall, in November, in the Northern Hemisphere.
The main ‘weed’ species is the common ragwort Jacobaea Vulgaris, another synonym is Senecio jacobaea.
Distribution of Ragwort (Jacobaea Vulgaris)
Ragwort is widespread in Europe. In the UK, where it is native, it is listed as a noxious weed.
It is most often found in pastures, waste grounds, open fields, along roads, and trails.
This species can also be found in many other regions, where it is listed as a weed in many. These regions are:
- North America: The United States, present mainly in the northwest and northeast;
- South America: Argentina;
- Africa: North Africa;
- Asia: India and Siberia
- New Zealand and Australia.
Macro photography
The image above, I took in the backyard to get familiar with the macro lens that I had bought around that time.
Macro photography can be very therapeutic and gives a feeling of harmony just like astrophotography does. It shows the beauty of nature in detail and you learn to appreciate it in its simplest form.
Each year, especially when spring begins, I love to take my camera with the macro lens and capture all the treasures that surround me. It can be in the backyard or during walks in the forest or other nice places.
When going inside or coming home, I barely can wait to have a look at all my macro shots and sort them out by plants, insects, etc.
After that, I begin to determine all the species and keep them in separate files on my laptop.
Since I started with macro photography years ago, I learned a lot about plants, flowers, insects, etc.
Image details
- Camera: Canon EOS 750D DSLR
- Macro lens: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro OS HSM Canon
- Filter: B+W Circular Polarisation filter HTC MRC F-Pro 62mm
