96 COMMON WEEDS 



usually be kept within bounds by thorough and "clean" 

 cultivation. 



Marsh Cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum L.) is a small 

 branched annual weed of 3 to 6 inches high. It is woolly 

 or cottony, of a delicate silvery-white colour, and has 

 small, narrow leaves which reach beyond, or over-top, 

 the terminal clusters of small sessile heads of flowers, 

 which open between July and September. This weed 

 is common in arable land, more especially perhaps in 

 cornfields, where, being small, it has a better chance of 

 appearing. It favours damp, light sandy soils, " especi- 

 ally where water has stood during winter" (Johns). 

 Although small it may, if very plentiful, do some 

 damage by crowding the roots of corn and other crops. 

 It may be reduced by hoeing and thorough cultivation. 

 (See also p. 187.) 



Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.) is a weed of almost all 

 soils, and is especially prolific and plentiful on good 

 land. It may sometimes occur in gardens and on rich 

 arable fields in almost incredible quantity, completely 

 smothering any young crop. As a green food for cage 

 birds it is almost as well known by townspeople as by 

 dwellers in the country. Groundsel (Fig. 26) is a succu- 

 lent branched annual, 6 to 1 5 inches high, with ragged, 

 coarsely toothed and cut leaves; the small heads of yellow 

 flowers, i inch in diameter, are placed several together 

 in clusters, each head on a short stalk. In the fruiting 

 stage the short pappus hairs give the heads the appear- 

 ance of silky balls. This weed flowers almost all the 

 year round, one plant continuing to produce flowers 

 and seeds for some months. Growth is rapid, and, if 

 permitted, the plants quickly produce silky ribbed fruits, 

 which are widely scattered by the wind. 



Groundsel must be combated in gardens by the 

 repeated and vigorous use of the hoe while the plants 



