Senecio vulgaris
Groundsel
Senecio vulgaris, commonly known as common groundsel, is a widespread annual herb frequently found in disturbed soils and gardens. Despite its status as a common weed, it holds significant botanical interest due to its complex chemical composition, containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids that influence its ecological role and medicinal properties.
- Scientific name: Senecio vulgaris
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is further classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus name, Senecio.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Senecio | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Senecio vulgaris, is recognized by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is referred to as 欧洲千里光 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), 歐洲千里光 in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant), and 歐洲千里光 in the Cantonese usage of Hong Kong (zh-hk). In Poland, the species is known as Starzec zwyczajny (pl), while in the Qinghai-Tibetan language, it is called Asnan qura (qu).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 欧洲千里光 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 歐洲千里光 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 歐洲千里光 | Wikidata |
| pl | Starzec zwyczajny | Wikidata |
| qu | Asnan qura | Wikidata |
| ko | 개쑥갓 | Wikidata |
| fr | Séneçon commun | Wikidata |
| hu | közönséges aggófű | Wikidata |
| lv | Parastā krustaine | Wikidata |
| de | Gewöhnliches Greiskraut | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the islands of Føroyar and Iceland. Furthermore, the species is commonly documented throughout Great Britain. Together, these locations highlight its ability to thrive in various Northern European environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as groundsel, is often utilized in traditional herbalism where the whole plant is harvested to harness its various bioactive compounds. When prepared as a tea, the infusion of the entire botanical structure—including the leaves, stems, and flowering heads—is used to create a medicinal decoction. By consuming the tea made from the whole plant, practitioners aim to access the complete range of chemical constituents found throughout its different organs.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| whole plant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Senecio vulgaris has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include senecionine, isoline, monocrotaline, pyrrolizidine alkaloid, retrorsine.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| senecionine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| isoline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| monocrotaline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pyrrolizidine alkaloid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| retrorsine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seneciphylline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Senecio vulgaris has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatotoxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Senecio vulgaris has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include apoptosis, portal hypertension.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| apoptosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| portal hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |