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stinking willie, tansy ragwort

mountain meadow butterweed, thick-leaved groundsel

Habit Herbs perennial, 2–8(10) dm; caudices ± woody, branching, rhizomatous. Herbs perennial, (1.5)2–5(7) dm; caudices ± woody, branching, rhizomatous.
Stems

1, or rarely 2–4 and loosely clustered, often purple-tinged, sparsely and unevenly tomentose.

1–4, glabrous.

Leaves

basal usually withering before flowering;

cauline ± evenly distributed along stems;

distal slightly smaller; ovate to broadly ovate, bases tapered, usually 1–3-pinnate, ultimate margins dentate;

lobes obovate to spatulate, petiolate.

basal present at flowering;

cauline evenly distributed along stems; thick and fleshy, lanceolate to subelliptic, bases tapering;

margins dentate with callous denticles to subentire;

surfaces glabrous, sometimes with broadly winged petioles;

proximal often early deciduous; mid-cauline sometimes larger, sessile and weakly clasping;

distal smaller, sessile and clasping.

Inflorescences

compound corymb-like arrays;

bracts conspicuous but small.

corymb-like arrays;

bracts 2–4 mm, conspicuous.

Involucres

widely cylindric or urn-shaped.

broadly campanulate.

Ray florets

~13;

rays 8–12 mm.

8 or 13;

rays 5–12 mm.

Disc florets

60–70+.

55–65; deep golden to orange-yellow.

Phyllaries

13, 3–4(5);

tips black or dark green.

(8)13 or 21, 5–9 mm, with black tips;

surfaces densely tomentose.

Calyculi

2–6 bractlets, inconspicuous, usually < 2 mm.

(1)3–6 linear to filiform bractlets; (1)2–6 mm, with or without black tips.

Fruits

0.75–1.3 mm, sparsely hairy or glabrous.

2–2.5 mm, glabrous.

Heads

(10)20–60+.

(1)4–12.

2n

=40.

=40.

Senecio jacobaea

Senecio crassulus

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

Disturbed areas, pastures, roadsides. Flowering May–Sep. 0–1600 m. Casc, CR, Est, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, WA; north to British Columbia, northeast to MT, northeastern North America; Europe. Exotic.

Senecio jacobea is an introduced weed, originally from Europe. It establishes in places with cool, wet summers and is particularly toxic to livestock. In most states where it occurs, this species has been declared a noxious weed.

Wet to drying hillsides and meadows, open forests. Flowering May–Aug. 800–3000 m. BR, BW, Owy. ID, NV; northeast to MT, east to SD, southeast to NM. Native.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 340
Debra Trock
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 338
Debra Trock
Sibling taxa
S. aronicoides, S. crassulus, S. ertterae, S. fremontii, S. hydrophiloides, S. hydrophilus, S. integerrimus, S. serra, S. sphaerocephalus, S. sylvaticus, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris
S. aronicoides, S. ertterae, S. fremontii, S. hydrophiloides, S. hydrophilus, S. integerrimus, S. jacobaea, S. serra, S. sphaerocephalus, S. sylvaticus, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris
Synonyms Jacobaea vulgaris
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