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California groundsel, chaparral ragwort, rayless ragwort

Clark's ragwort

Habit Annuals, 5–20+ cm (taproots relatively short and thin). Perennials, (50–)60–100(–120) cm (caudices fibrous-rooted).
Herbage

glabrous or sparsely tomentose (especially distally).

sparsely floccose-tomentose, unevenly glabrescent.

Stems

usually 1 (relatively thin, delicate).

single.

Leaves

evenly distributed;

sessile;

blades oblanceolate to lance-linear, 2–4 × 0.5–1 cm, bases sometimes weakly clasping, margins usually subpinnate to dentate, sometimes subentire (distal leaves bractlike).

evenly distributed; petiolate;

well-developed mid leaves: blades lanceolate to oblong,(8–)10–15(–18) × (2–)3–5(–9) cm overall, margins deeply dentate or irregularly pinnate-lobed to laciniate;

distal leaves sessile, weakly clasping.

Ray florets

0 or 1–5;

corolla laminae 0.5–1+ mm (barely surpassing phyllaries, heads perhaps technically disciform).

± 8 or ± 13;

corolla laminae 8–12(–20) mm.

Phyllaries

± 8 or ± 13, 5–6 mm, tips greenish.

± 13 or ± 21, 5–8 mm, tips green.

Calyculi

0 or of 1–3+ lance-deltate bractlets.

of 3–8+ linear to filiform bractlets (lengths 1/2–3/4+ phyllaries).

Heads

4–10+ in open, cymiform arrays.

8–20 in corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

densely hairy.

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

Senecio aphanactis

Senecio clarkianus

Phenology Flowering late winter–spring. Flowering late summer.
Habitat Dry, open ground, especially alkaline flats Moist meadows, conifer-dominated sites
Elevation 10–400 m (0–1300 ft) 1400–2700 m (4600–8900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Senecio clarkianus grows on west slopes of the central and southern Sierra Nevada.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 563. FNA vol. 20, p. 566.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio
Sibling taxa
S. actinella, S. amplectens, S. ampullaceus, 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. 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
Name authority Greene: Pittonia 1: 220. (1888) A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 7: 362. (1868)
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