Ragwort, is there a use for this horrible weed?

[elma]

I've just spent the last few days of my holiday pulling ragwort out of our paddock, I know its poisonous to livestock and its not doing my lungs much good either but can anyone tell me a use for this weed

Ian

 

[Toddy]

It's a good strong yellow dye. Strong enough to turn a blue dye green.
That's about it really. Though it feeds a lot of caterpillars too.

chheers,
Toddy

 

[BorderReiver]

The cinnabar moth relies on it for laying it's eggs and feeding the caterpillars.

 

[Greg]

You can check this website out:

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Senecio+jacobaea

 

[spamel]

It seems to have kept you fit, so it has its' uses obviously!

 

[rich59]

It is very fibrous. I wonder if one could find a way of extracting them to make cordage.

 

[Toddy]

I think you'd need to mechanise it Rich, it's so ........toxic, isn't the right word, but it's really not good stuff to be handling if you can avoid it.

I use it, and I gather and dry it for out of season too, I can smell it for days afterwards

cheers,
M

 

[robwolf]

ragwort has dngerous chemicals in it that go through the skin and attack your liver so wear gloves when handling , it was once thought that the juice would take away the pain of arthritis ...well it does but will damage your liver at the same time .......

 

[elma]

thanks for the help guys
I think I'll just burn it as its too risky having the stuff around the horses, it also makes my sarcoid flare up so I can't use it, but some excellent information
Rgds
Ian