# nipplewort (*Lapsana communis*) Nipplewort is a cheerful little plant with bright yellow flowers. It often grows in gardens and along paths, bringing a splash of color to our world. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![nipplewort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%D4%BD%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A2%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%AF.jpg&width=800) Photo: Արարատ Թրվանց, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D4%BD%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A2%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%AF.jpg) ## Appearance The nipplewort has slender, branching stems and small, bright yellow, dandelion-like flowers, typically with 8-13 ray florets. Its lower leaves are lobed, while the upper ones are smaller and often untoothed, giving it a somewhat delicate appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Lapsana ## Interesting facts - Ancient people used this plant for its soothing properties. - Its tiny seeds are dispersed by wind, allowing it to travel far! - The tiny yellow flowers usually close up in the afternoon! - This plant loves growing in gardens and even cracks in pavements. ## Special abilities - **Rapid Colonizer:** Nipplewort can quickly grow and produce many seeds, helping it spread fast in disturbed areas. - **Self-Pollinator:** Nipplewort has flowers that can self-pollinate, ensuring it makes seeds even without many insect helpers. - **Adaptable Life:** Nipplewort can be an annual or biennial, completing its life cycle to suit different environmental conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-120 cm - **Spread:** 20-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Collects pollen and nectar - **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Feeds on its leaves - **Eaten by:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Consumes its foliage ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify nipplewort? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is nipplewort? 30-120 cm ### How wide does nipplewort spread? 20-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on nipplewort? 1-2 cm ### When does nipplewort bloom? Summer to fall ### Is nipplewort edible? Yes ### Is nipplewort toxic? None ### What is nipplewort's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Field Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/field-farm) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Reading Public Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reading-public-museum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Village of Monroe Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/village-of-monroe-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Cascades Raptor Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cascades-raptor-center) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [Chenango County Courthouse District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-county-courthouse-district) — New York, US · Historic District [View all places to see nipplewort](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/nipplewort) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Nipplewort: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nipplewort)