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Nipplewort

Nipplewort

Lapsana communis

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How common: Common

Alien species

Nipplewort is a slender annual with small pale yellow flower heads from the daisy family. It is a common weed of fields, gardens, roadsides and waste ground across Europe and has spread to other regions. The leaves often have a large triangular end part with one or two small side lobes near the base.

Did you know?

  • Unlike many dandelion relatives, its seeds lack the white fluffy parachute.
  • Botanists recognise two forms (subspecies) of nipplewort.

About the species

Identification

Upright one-year plant, often branched, about 30–100 cm tall. Stem stiff; lower part hairy. Leaves softly hairy. Lower leaves have long stalks and usually one or two small side lobes near the base plus a large triangular or oval end part; edges toothed. Upper leaves are shorter-stalked or without stalk. Many small pale yellow flower heads (1–2 cm) in an open, branched cluster. Under each head are two rows of narrow green scales; the inner row is clearly longer. Ripe seeds are narrow, slightly curved and ridged, without a white parachute. Unlike dandelions, stems carry many small heads. Flowers in Finland from July to September.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

yards and roadsides

Flowering

Jul–Sep

About the habitat

Grows on disturbed, nutrient-rich ground such as fields, gardens, waste places and roadsides, and can also appear in light woods and on shores. Common in southern and central Finland; rarer or only occasional further north.

Sources

Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr 020808-0047 Lapsana communis.jpg

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki leviäimet, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39949

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki versot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39949

Text: Pinkka: Laaja maatalouslajintuntemus 4 op - Koppisiemeniset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39949

Text: Pinkka (Luomus), CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39949

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnunkaali

See also