Flora of North America species comparison

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Senecio actinella

Senecio megacephalus

Flagstaff ragwort

large-head groundsel, rocky ragwort
Habit Perennials, (7–)20–30(–40+) cm (rhizomes exfoliating). Perennials, (15–)30–50 cm (rhizomes woody, suberect or creeping).
Herbage

densely lanate-tomentose, glabrescent (especially on adaxial faces of leaves).

loosely arachno-tomentose, unevenly glabrescent.
Stems

single.

single or clustered.
Leaves

mostly basal; petiolate;

blades narrowly obovate, (2–)3–7(–10) × 1–2(–3+) cm, bases tapered, margins subentire to denticulate (cauline leaves bractlike).

progressively reduced distally; weakly petiolate;

blades lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 10–18+ × 1–2(–3+) cm, bases tapered, margins entire or wavy (often with dark, cartilaginous denticles; mid leaves similar, smaller, sessile; distal leaves bractlike).
Ray florets

± 13;

corolla laminae usually 8–10 mm (sometimes tubular, unexpanded, heads then perhaps technically disciform).

± 13;

corolla laminae (5–)15–20 mm.
Phyllaries

± 21, 8–12 mm, tips greenish (with white bristles).

± 21, 9–12(–14) mm, tips not notably blackened (short-hairy).
Calyculi

of (1–)5–8+ linear to filiform bractlets (lengths 1/3–3/4 phyllaries).

of 5–8+ linear to filiform bractlets (lengths 1/2–7/8+ phyllaries).
Heads

1(–3).

usually 1 (sometimes subtended by 1–2 smaller heads).
Cypselae

hairy.

glabrous.
2n

= 40.

Senecio actinella

Senecio megacephalus
Phenology Flowering summer. Flowering summer.
Habitat In duff, rocky woodlands, especially in pine-dominated areas Rocky, moist or drying sites, especially on mountain slopes
Elevation 2000–3000 m (6600–9800 ft) 1500–2500 m (4900–8200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; MT; WY; AB; BC
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Plants of Senecio actinella with relatively small proximal leaves similar to basal leaves and adaxial leaf faces early glabrate have been recognized as var. mogollonicus; the distinction is difficult to maintain. Receptacles in Senecio actinella are sometimes insect-infested.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 553. FNA vol. 20, p. 553.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio
Sibling taxa
S. amplectens, S. ampullaceus, S. aphanactis, S. arizonicus, S. aronicoides, S. astephanus, S. atratus, S. bigelovii, S. blochmaniae, S. californicus, S. cannabifolius, S. clarkianus, S. crassulus, S. elegans, S. elmeri, S. eremophilus, S. ertterae, S. erucifolius, S. flaccidus, S. fremontii, S. hydrophiloides, S. hydrophilus, S. integerrimus, S. jacobaea, S. lemmonii, S. lugens, S. lyonii, S. megacephalus, S. mohavensis, S. multidentatus, S. neowebsteri, S. parryi, S. pattersonensis, S. pseudoarnica, S. pudicus, S. quaylei, S. rapifolius, S. riddellii, S. sacramentanus, S. scorzonella, S. serra, S. sheldonensis, S. soldanella, S. spartioides, S. sphaerocephalus, S. spribillei, S. squalidus, S. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
S. actinella, S. amplectens, S. ampullaceus, S. aphanactis, S. arizonicus, S. aronicoides, S. astephanus, S. atratus, S. bigelovii, S. blochmaniae, S. californicus, S. cannabifolius, S. clarkianus, S. crassulus, S. elegans, S. elmeri, S. eremophilus, S. ertterae, S. erucifolius, S. flaccidus, S. fremontii, S. hydrophiloides, S. hydrophilus, S. integerrimus, S. jacobaea, S. lemmonii, S. lugens, S. lyonii, S. mohavensis, S. multidentatus, S. neowebsteri, S. parryi, S. pattersonensis, S. pseudoarnica, S. pudicus, S. quaylei, S. rapifolius, S. riddellii, S. sacramentanus, S. scorzonella, S. serra, S. sheldonensis, S. soldanella, S. spartioides, S. sphaerocephalus, S. spribillei, S. squalidus, S. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
Synonyms S. actinella var. mogollonicus, S. mogollonicus
Name authority Greene: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 10: 87. (1883) Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 410. (1841)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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