Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Asteraceae / Compositae ⟩ Serratula tinctoria / sawwort

Serratula tinctoria L.

sawwort (Asteraceae / Compositae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadModerate tendencyS
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Serratula tinctoria grows in unimproved grasslands in Wales and England – especially in the south-west (seen here with Rhinanthus minor, Ranunculus acris and others).

Murcott (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2016-06-29

 sawwort / Serratula tinctoria: _Serratula tinctoria_ grows in unimproved grasslands in Wales and England – especially in the south-west (seen here with _Rhinanthus minor_, _Ranunculus acris_ and others).

The phyllaries of Serratula tinctoria are simple, with a narrow whitish margin.

Murcott (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2016-06-29

 sawwort / Serratula tinctoria: The phyllaries of _Serratula tinctoria_ are simple, with a narrow whitish margin.

The cut leaves of Serratula tinctoria give it its vernacular name of ‘saw-wort’.

Murcott (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2016-06-29

 sawwort / Serratula tinctoria: The cut leaves of _Serratula tinctoria_ give it its vernacular name of ‘saw-wort’.

In coastal heaths, Serratula tinctoria can be only a few centimetres high.

Lower Predannack Downs (VC1: West Cornwall & Scillies); 2016-07-18

 sawwort / Serratula tinctoria: In coastal heaths, _Serratula tinctoria_ can be only a few centimetres high.

The achenes of Serratula tinctoria have a pappus of several rows of simple, beige hairs.

Lower Slaughter (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2021-08-03

 sawwort / Serratula tinctoria: The achenes of _Serratula tinctoria_ have a pappus of several rows of simple, beige hairs.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne