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Saw-wort

Saw-wort ©Wendy Carter

Saw-wort

Saw-wort gets its common name from the serrated, saw-like edges to its leaves. It is a plant of unimproved hay meadows and woodland edges, its purple, thistle-like flowers appearing over summer.

Enw gwyddonol

Serratula tinctoria

Pryd i'w gweld

July to September

Species information

Ystadegau

Height: up to 1m
Common.

Habitats

Ynghylch

Saw-wort is a member of the daisy family that looks like a thistle without the spines. It gets its common name from serrated edges of its leaves. Its purple flower heads appear from July to September and can be seen on unimproved hay meadows and along woodland edges, particularly on chalky soils.

Sut i'w hadnabod

Saw-wort has purple flower heads that look like those of a small thistle and sit in branched clusters; however, it lacks the spines of a thistle. It has finely saw-toothed leaves.

Dosbarthiad

Found in England and Wales, particularly in the South West.

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

Historically, the leaves of Saw-wort were used for creating a yellow dye.