(Common)   SENECIO VULGARIS
Taken in ale, it acts against the Pains of the stomach, stranguly and jaundice.
A very common annual weed, growing to about a foot (30 cm) high. The stalk is tender and juicy. The yellow flowers are poor but numerous.
Where to find it: Fields and gardens, tilled and untilled ground.
Flowering time: All the summer.
Astrology: Under the dominion of Venus.
Medicinal virtues. Although a common plant, it has many virtues. It is cooling and digesting in inflarnmations and, made like tea, it is an emetic. It will destroy worms and is useful in scrofulous tumours, inflammation of the breasts and scald head.
Thejuice is purgative and the dose should not exceed two ounces (56 g). The leaves, bruised and applied outwardly to the stomach, produce a similar effect, and there is no better application for the gripes and colic of infants.
For sore breasts, pick a handful of the fresh juicy leaves, bruise then and make a poultice with a little bread boiled in milk. Then lay the poultice on and repeat as often as needed, and an effectual cure will result.
When taken in wine the juice provokes urine and expels the gravel. A dram (1.7 g) of the juice is sufficient taken inwardly and caution should be used so that it may not work mischief.
Modern uses: It is mainly used as a diuretic and diaphoretic. The herb is used as an infusion, but this should not be too strong, otherwise it becomes emetic and purgative. A weak infusion of 1/2 oz (14 g) of herb to 1 pt (568 ml) of boiling water taken in doses of 1 fl oz (28 ml) will still have a laxative action.
The root contains a toxic substance known as senecionine which irritates the liver and should not be used internally.

Groundsel bush is a rapidly growing introduced weed capable of invading and dominating overgrazed pastures and other disturbed habitats. It will proliferate rapidly from windborne seed competing with pastures and suppressing native plant communities, particularly in wetlands.

Control involves a combination of management practices ensuring ground cover of desirable species and, where necessary, strategic herbicide treatments of grounsel bush.

Noxious Weed Information