The genus Senecio is among the largest genera of plants with more than a thousand species world wide. This one is very similar to common ragort, Senecio vulgaris. The characters that identify it as a Senecio are the single series of phyllaries forming the flower head, the enlarged base of the head, and the long capillary bristles of the mature seeds. A majority of ragwort species also have yellow flowers. Many Senecio are highly toxic to livestock causing illness or death.