ragwort

Definition

Any of a number of wild flowering plants with yellow flowers in the family Asteraceae, mostly belonging to Senecio and related genera.

Etymology

From rag (referring to the ragged leaves) + wort.

Example Sentences

• "Ragwort is under the command of dame Venus, and cleanses, digests and discusses."
• "Sea-poppies and ragwort were plants of ill-fame, too."
• "As we all know, witches ride through the air on a broom, but sometimes their means of locomotion was a bulrush, a branch of thorn, mullein stalks, cornstalk, or ragweed, called fairies' horse in Ireland."