Stuttgart, Germany, 06/2021
Stuttgart, Germany, 06/2021(Backlit)

Lapsana communis

Scientific Name
Lapsana communis
FAMILY
Asteraceae
LIFESPAN
perennial
BLOSSOM SYMMETRY
radial
Common Name
Common nipplewort
ORDER
Asterales
BLOSSOM COLOR
yellow
PHYLLOTAXIS
alternate

Lapsana communis, commonly known as nipplewort, is an annual to biennial wildflower native to Europe and western Asia. It is characterized by its soft, branching stems and small, yellow, dandelion-like flower heads that appear throughout summer. The unusual name “nipplewort” comes from the shape of its unopened flower buds, which were thought to resemble nipples and led to its use in old folk medicine for treating breast ailments. Unlike many showy wildflowers, Lapsana communis is subtle and shade-tolerant, often appearing in woodland edges, hedgerows, and village paths where it quietly fills ecological gaps.

More Specimens

Stuttgart, Germany, 06/2021
Stuttgart, Germany, 06/2021(Backlit)