Parasenecio

Perennials, [20–]60–120[–200] cm (rhizomes fibrous-rooted; plants caulescent [subscapiform], glabrous or hairy). Stems usually 1, erect. Leaves basal and cauline; alternate; petiolate (petiole bases ± auriculate and clasping to sheathing; proximal and middle leaves largest); blades palmately nerved [and lobed], reniform to ± deltate [orbiculate, sometimes peltate], margins usually raggedly dentate, abaxial faces glabrous or puberulent (on veins) [puberulent to sericeous], adaxial glabrous. Heads discoid (nodding), in racemiform or subpaniculiform arrays. Calyculi 0 [present]. Involucres cylindric to weakly turbinate, 2–3+ mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, [3–]5+ in 1–2 series, erect, distinct, oblong to linear, equal, margins ± scarious. Receptacles flat, smooth or foveolate, epaleate. Ray florets 0. Disc florets [1–]4–7[–20], bisexual, fertile; corollas white or ochroleucous [yellowish], tubes longer than funnelform throats, lobes 5, recurved or coiled, lance-linear to deltate; style branches: stigmatic areas continuous, apices rounded-truncate. Cypselae ± ellipsoid, sometimes finely 10-ribbed, glabrous; pappi readily falling or fragile, of 100–120+, white [reddish], barbellulate bristles. x = 30.

Distribution

Alaska, mostly in ne Asia, especially China, Japan, and the Russian Far East.

Discussion

Species ca. 60 (1 in the flora).

Species of this group were long treated in Cacalia; difficulties with the typification of that name led to its rejection (T. M. Barkley 1999). The genus Koyamacalia was erected by H. Robinson and R. D. Brettell (1973) for the Asiatic “core” of Cacalia, including the single species in the flora area; the name Parasenecio has priority.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Parasenecio auriculatus