Toxic invasive ragwort confirmed spreading in Portland yards and lots
iNaturalist: paige16163
Invasive Species
That cheerful yellow weed popping up in vacant lots and along sidewalks is toxic to horses, cattle, and pets if eaten in hay or pasture, so knowing it's confirmed in your neighborhood matters if you keep animals or pull weeds by hand without gloves.
Someone spotted ragwort growing in Portland and submitted a photo that other naturalists reviewed and confirmed as accurate. Ragwort looks like a cheerful yellow daisy but it's actually a poisonous invasive plant that can harm livestock and pets, so tracking exactly where it shows up in cities helps people know where to watch out for it and pull it before it spreads further.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research-grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning community identifiers confirmed the species match
Location confirmed as Portland, Oregon, indicating the invasive plant has established in an urban Pacific Northwest setting
Species identified as Jacobaea vulgaris, commonly known as ragwort, a plant toxic to grazing livestock
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed a sighting of ragwort, a toxic invasive weed, growing in Portland, Oregon. This kind of verified observation helps track where the plant is spreading in urban areas.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) observed in Portland, OR, US
Research-grade observation of ragwort in Portland, OR, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Jacobaea vulgaris, synonym Senecio jacobaea, is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is native to northern Eurasia, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere.