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Hall's ragwort

nodding groundsel, nodding ragwort

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

often floccose-tomentose, especially among heads and on abaxial faces of leaves, sometimes unevenly glabrescent.

usually floccose-tomentose to glabrescent, sometimes glabrous.

Stems

single or loosely clustered.

Leaves

blades of proximal usually tapered to petioles;

mid and distal leaves weakly, if at all, clasping.

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).

Ray florets

0.

Phyllaries

mostly 21, (7–)8–12 mm.

± 13 or ± 21, 6–12 mm, tips green.

Calyculi

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

Heads

(1–)3–7.

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

Cypselae

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

Senecio bigelovii var. hallii

Senecio bigelovii

Phenology Flowering summer.
Habitat Grassy damp or drying sites in open conifer-dominated areas
Elevation 1700–3500 m (5600–11500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT; WY
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT; WY; s Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas of the United States
[WildflowerSearch map]
[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.)

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. 549.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio > Senecio bigelovii Asteraceae > tribe Senecioneae > Senecio
Sibling taxa
S. bigelovii var. bigelovii
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
Subordinate taxa
S. bigelovii var. bigelovii, S. bigelovii var. hallii
Synonyms Ligularia bigelovii subsp. hallii, S. accedens Ligularia bigelovii
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 15: 67. (1864) A. Gray: in War Department [U.S.], Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 111. (1857)
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