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nodding groundsel, nodding ragwort

San Gabriel ragwort

Habit Perennials, (20–)40–80(–120) cm (caudices fibrous-rooted). Perennials, 40–100 cm (caudices unknown).
Herbage

usually floccose-tomentose to glabrescent, sometimes glabrous.

unevenly floccose-lanate or tomentose, glabrescent.

Stems

single or loosely clustered.

single.

Leaves

progressively reduced distally;

petiolate (proximal);

blades ovate to lanceolate, 7–15 × (1–)2–5 cm, bases contracted or tapered, margins subentire or serrate to dentate (mid and distal leaves similar, sessile, bractlike, often clasping).

progressively reduced distally;

petiolate;

blades elliptic-ovate to lanceolate, 10–20(–30?) × 3–7+ cm, bases tapered, margins dentate to denticulate (teeth cartilaginous; mid leaves similar, sessile, smaller; distal leaves bractlike).

Ray florets

0.

0.

Phyllaries

± 13 or ± 21, 6–12 mm, tips green.

± 21, 7–8 mm, tips greenish.

Calyculi

of 4–10 linear bractlets (lengths mostly 1/3–1/2 phyllaries, sometimes 1 or 2 equaling phyllaries).

of 5–8+ lance-linear to filiform bractlets (lengths 1/3–7/8 phyllaries).

Heads

nodding (especially when young), (1–)3–12(–20) in racemiform or paniculiform arrays (terminal heads often largest).

10–20+ in loose or congested, cymiform arrays.

Cypselae

glabrous.

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio bigelovii

Senecio astephanus

Phenology Flowering spring.
Habitat Steep, rocky slopes
Elevation 400–1500 m (1300–4900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT; WY; s Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas of the United States
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

The two varieties of Senecio bigelovii are distinguished by morphologic tendencies and by geography.

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

Of conservation concern.

Senecio astephanus is collected infrequently.

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

Key
1. Herbage glabrous or nearly so (at flowering); blades of proximal leaves often abruptly contracted or at least obtuse at bases; mid and distal leaves clasping; phyllaries mostly 13, 6–8+ mm
var. bigelovii
1. Herbage often floccose-tomentose, especially among heads and on abaxial faces of leaves; blades of proximal leaves usually tapered to petioles; mid and distal leaves weakly, if at all, clasping; phyllaries mostly 21, (7–)8–12 mm
var. hallii
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 549. FNA vol. 20, p. 553.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio
Sibling taxa
S. actinella, S. amplectens, S. ampullaceus, S. aphanactis, S. arizonicus, S. aronicoides, S. astephanus, S. atratus, 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. 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
Subordinate taxa
S. bigelovii var. bigelovii, S. bigelovii var. hallii
Synonyms Ligularia bigelovii
Name authority A. Gray: in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 111. (1857) Greene: Pittonia 1: 174. (1888)
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