Niger - Guizotia abyssinica

An erect, plant which grows to a height of about 60 cm with a stout, hairy, well-branched stem. grown for its edible oil and seed. It has rich yellow flowers (20 to 25 mm across) which are backed by two rows of large, sepal-like bracts. The flowers are composed of slightly untidy, ridged, spreading, strap-shaped petals which have deeply scalloped edges. The unstalked, opposite lanceolate leaves are toothed.

Detailed photographs required.

Found on disturbed ground, rubbish tips, sewage farms, roadsides and waste places, where it usually occurs as a casual from bird-seed, grain, oil-seed and wool shoddy.

It is in flower from late summer, from July to October or later. The seeds ripen from autumn.

Annual herb.

Occasional, but widespread casual in Britain.

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.