Senecio erucifolius

Perennials, 30–120 cm (rhizomes branched, sometimes producing stolons). Herbage floccose-tomentose, unevenly glabrescent (persistently hairy on abaxial leaf faces). Stems usually single, sometimes loosely clustered. Leaves ± evenly distributed (basal and proximal sometimes withering before flowering); petiolate (proximal) or sessile; blades ovoid or oblong to spatulate (usually pinnatifid to pinnatisect, lobes ± lanceolate to linear), (3–)5–12 × (1.5–)2–4 cm, bases tapered to ± truncate, ultimate margins (often revolute) dentate or entire. Heads 20–60 in corymbiform arrays. Calyculi of 4–6(–10) bractlets (lengths to 1/2 phyllaries). Phyllaries ± 13, 5–7 mm, tips green or greenish. Ray florets ± 13; corolla laminae 12–15 mm. Cypselae hairy.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Waste grounds
Elevation: 0–200+ m

Introduced; Pa., Old World.

Discussion

Senecio erucifolius has been introduced occasionally around seaports and has persisted. At present, it appears to be uncommon and highly localized; it should be expected almost any place that its close relative, Senecio jacobaea, occurs.

Senecio erucifolius was treated in Jacobaea by E. Wiebe (2000); see discussion under 53. S. jacobaea.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa