Admiring a Bobby Dazzler

This is, of course, Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea L.) This brassy bloom is in the Parish of Bride in the Isle of Man. We should therefore give it its Manx name of Cushag.

It has been classed as an "Injurious Weed" since 1957 and prior to the beginning of this month all hell was supposed to be let loose if one had the temerity to suffer or permit it to remain uncut. Except that no one took a blind bit of notice about that and Cushag has continued to thrive for fifty years. The Manx law against it has now been changed and by and large it is going to be permitted to carry on in peace.

It can be a considerable source of nectar for honeybees although if it is collected in large quantities some beekeepers say that it can give the honey an "off" flavour. I have not found it to cause that trouble.

Cushag has the misfortune to be the Manx National Plant. You may wonder, just as I do, about the state of affairs where our national plant had found itself to be an injurious weed.