Description:
It has hairy, long, slender ribbed leaves that form 1 or more rosettes from which emerge long, slender flowering stems carrying dense, brown, cylindrical seed heads that often have white anthers sticking out of them from October to March or in July. Has a long Taproot.
As A Soil Indicator:
Very low Calcium, High Phosphorous, Very high Potassium, High Manganese, Very high Magnesium, High Iron, High Sulfate, High Copper, High Boron, High Chlorine, High Selenium, Very little organic matter.
Life cycle:
Annual, biennial or perennial. Germination occurs mainly in the autumn and winter. More abundant in the higher rainfall areas.
Beneficial:
Palatable fodder while other fodder is limited, Insectary, Nectary, May eat young leaves as a spinach.
Detrimental:
Host for some plant diseases. Host plant for light brown apple moth
Toxicity:
May cause hay fever. May have a mild laxative effect
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