Serratula tinctoria, commonly known as dyer's plumeless saw-wort or saw-wort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

Description

Saw-wort is a spineless hairless perennial herb with wiry branched erect grooved stems. It usually grows 20 – 80 cm tall. The long hairless leaves measure 12 – 20 cm long and have finely bristle-toothed edges. The leaves, which are arranged alternately along the stem, vary in shape and dimensions, ranging from undivided and lanceolate to deeply pinnatifid with narrow lobes. Only the lower leaves are stalked

The stalked thistle-like flowerheads are 1.5 – 2 cm long and arranged in loose leafy inflorescences. The 5-lobed florets are reddish purple, the involucre is narrow oblong. The purplish bracts are appressed to the stem, being oval and pointed and not spiny.

Ecology and habitat

S. tinctoria grows in various soil types overlying a range of rock types but is almost always confined to semi-natural vegetation in habitats with low levels of soil fertility and disturbance. It typically favours moist soils with full sun to partial shade, growing in grasslands, mires, open woodland, and scrub as well as their ecotones.

Distribution

The species is found throughout much of England and Wales but is very rare in Scotland. It was first recorded from Ireland in New Ross, County Wexford in 1925, but has not been seen there since 1952.

<gallery>

File:Asteraceae - Serratula tinctoria-1.JPG

File:Asteraceae - Serratula tinctoria.JPG

File:Serratula tinctoria MHNT.BOT.2012.10.41.jpg

</gallery>

References

  • Many pictures