A winter- or spring- annual of dry, open, sandy or gravelly acidic to neutral soils such as the edges of arable fields, tracks, sand-pits, heaths and commons, and particularly characteristic of rabbit scrapes. Populations can vary greatly in size annually.
It is distinguished from Filago vulgaris in the inflorescences of chapters that some leaves below exceed. Stem up to 25 cm; leaves oblong-lanceolate to wedge-shaped, with yellowish hairs. Weakly quadrangular chapters; reddish-purple involucre bracts before flowering: Flowering from late spring and into summer.
This plant might be poisonous
How to get rid of:
Hand pulling needs to be done carefully to ensure there is a
minimum of soil disturbance. Many weeds flourish when soil is
disturbed.
Removal of small weeds can be achieved by placing one hand flat
on the ground with the weed between two fingers. As the hand is
pressed toward the ground the second hand can carefully remove
the weed.
