flowers for ID

[PeterD]

Can anyone please ID these. They were all taken yesterday on chalk grassland.













Thank you

[aeshna5]

1 one of the naturalised Michaelmas Daisies, Aster sp
2 Carline Thistle, Carlina vulgaris
3 Hoary Ragwort, Senecio erucifolius
4 Marjoram, Origanum vulgare
5 Small Scabious, Scabiosa columbaria
6 Common Centaury, Centaurium erythraea

[Dorts]

I agree, except for 3. which is surely Common Ragwort, (red stems, and no sign of those soft, hoary leaves).
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

Any more photos of 3 for confirmation?

[Dorts]

It's just that I've never seen Hoary Ragwort with red stems and shiny leaves.
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dorts

It's just that I've never seen Hoary Ragwort with red stems and shiny leaves.
Dorts.

It's strange because I've never really noticed stem colour in ragworts that much, though it doesn't appear as a distinguishing feature in a couple of books. This really is a good example of seeing the plant in the field to make a sound judgement when the whole plant can be examined.

The looser flower arrangement was the first thing that made me go for Hoary as Common usually seemes to have more compact heads, but again grazing or cutting may effect this.

Shame we can't see the bracts or more of the foliage.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It's strange because I've never really noticed stem colour in ragworts that much, though it doesn't appear as a distinguishing feature in a couple of books. This really is a good example of seeing the plant in the field to make a sound judgement when the whole plant can be examined.

The looser flower arrangement was the first thing that made me go for Hoary as Common usually seemes to have more compact heads, but again grazing or cutting may effect this.
Shame we can't see the bracts or more of the foliage.

I agree, we see these plants in the wild, in their natural habitat and it is often so easy to put a name to them. But given an out of context photo showing just a small part of the plant and it can be a different story. Yes, some bracts would certainly have helped.

As far as I have found, all of the common Ragworts can have red stems, but I've yet to find Hoary R. with them. So I thought it must be one of the others.
Dorts.

[aeshna5]

Would you believe it- out today recovering from a back problem + saw some reddish stems on a Hoary Ragwort- because of this thread I actually noticed it.

[PeterD]

Good afternoon all,

Firstly I would like to apaologise for not replying sooner but I have had cery little time to spend on here recently.

Thank you all for your replies, I regret that I do not have any more images of the Ragwort. I had hoped the the image would help ID the plant but accept that it is far easier to do in the field.

Thanks again for all of your replies to this thread,

[stevecurtis]

Hi thank you for an interesting thread, for my own I’d help can you please tell me the features in the photo that stops this being Oxford Ragwort.

All the best Steve