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lambstongue ragwort, western groundsel

wood groundsel, woodland ragwort

Habit Herbs perennial or biennial, (1)2–7 dm; caudices button-like, with fleshy, fibrous, unbranched roots. Herbs annual, (1.5)3–8+ dm; from fibrous taproots.
Stems

1, loosely arachnoid-tomentose, or villous, glabrate with age.

1, densely pubescent with abundant curly hairs.

Leaves

mostly basal;

cauline progressively reduced distally; ± petiolate;

basal and lower cauline elliptic, lanceolate, linear, oblanceolate, rounded-deltate, rarely suborbiculate, bases tapered or truncate to cordate;

margins entire or dentate;

distal becoming sessile and bract-like.

evenly distributed along stems, obovate to oblong in outline, bases tapering, usually 1–2-pinnately lobed or divided, ultimate margins dentate;

proximal petiolate;

distal clasping and bract-like.

Inflorescences

corymb-like arrays;

bracts 0 or inconspicuous.

corymb-like arrays;

bracts 0 or inconspicuous.

Involucres

urn-shaped.

cylindric.

Ray florets

5, rarely 0;

rays 6–15(20) mm, yellow or white to pale yellow.

0, rarely 1–8;

rays 1–2+ mm.

Disc florets

35–45.

40–50.

Phyllaries

(8)13 or 21;

tips usually black, sometimes green.

13+, rarely 21, 4–7+ mm;

tips green or minutely black.

Calyculi

1–5+, inconspicuous, usually < 2 mm.

0 or 1–5+ linear to filiform bractlets, 2–3 mm.

Fruits

2.5–3 mm, usually glabrous, sometimes hairy along ribs.

1.5–2.5 mm, sparsely pubescent on ribs.

Heads

6–15(30+).

12–24.

2n

=40, 80.

=40.

Senecio integerrimus

Senecio sylvaticus

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Western North America. 5 varieties; 3 varieties treated in Flora.

Disturbed open wooded areas. Flowering May–Oct. 0–1200 m. Casc, CR, ECas, Est, Sisk, WV. CA, WA; north to British Columbia, scattered in eastern North America; Asia, Europe. Exotic.

Senecio sylvaticus is a native of Eurasia and favors cool, damp climates. In overall appearance, it resembles the more common S. vulgaris. However, the latter has distinctive black-tipped phyllaries, while S. sylvaticus has phyllaries that are generally green-tipped. This species is well established in the Pacific Northwest and in parts of eastern Canada. Elsewhere it is sporadic.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 339
Debra Trock
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 341
Debra Trock
Sibling taxa
S. aronicoides, S. crassulus, S. ertterae, S. fremontii, S. hydrophiloides, S. hydrophilus, S. jacobaea, S. serra, S. sphaerocephalus, S. sylvaticus, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris
S. aronicoides, S. crassulus, S. ertterae, S. fremontii, S. hydrophiloides, S. hydrophilus, S. integerrimus, S. jacobaea, S. serra, S. sphaerocephalus, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris
Subordinate taxa
S. integerrimus var. exaltatus, S. integerrimus var. major, S. integerrimus var. ochroleucus
Web links