The weed was discovered near York Station

The York Groundsel was spotted by chance on waste land in the city.

In the last 100 years only two other "recently-originated" species have been found in the UK.

The new plant has been described as a "scruffy looking weed" by the man that discovered it, Dr Richard Abbott.

But the plant evolutionary biologist is still excited by the find after 30 years of research in the field.

Dr Abbott, who is based at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, said: "It is nice to have discovered a new species of plant because it is such a rare event."

Chance discovery

It was only discovered after he stopped off in the car park while touring the country on a different project looking at weeds.

The new species is thought to have originated in York in the last 30 years and the city is still the only place it can be found.

The weed is a natural hybrid of the Common Groundsel and the Oxford Ragwort, according to genetic analysis.

The Latin name given to the new plant is Senecio Eboracensis, after Eboracum - the Roman name for York.

Dr Abbott admitted the plant's discovery would hardly "set the world on fire" but said it was of huge importance from a scientific point of view.

He added: "At a time in Earth's history when animal and plant species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate, the discovery of the origin of a new plant species in Britain calls for a celebration."

Dr Abbott's findings are published in Watsonia, the journal of the Botanical Society of the British Isles.