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mountain meadow butterweed, thick-leaf groundsel, thick-leaf ragwort

oxford ragwort

Habit Perennials, (15–)20–50(–70) cm (rhizomes branched, ± woody). Annuals (or perennials), 15–60+ cm (taprooted).
Herbage

glabrous.

sparsely, unevenly floccose to subglabrous, glabrescent.

Stems

1–(2–4).

single (branching distally).

Leaves

(thickish-turgid) progressively reduced distally; petiolate;

blades broadly lanceolate to subelliptic, 2.5–15 × 1–5 cm, bases tapered, margins sharply dentate to subentire (some teeth callous; mid leaves sometimes larger than proximal; distal leaves sessile, smaller, often clasping).

evenly distributed; petiolate (proximal, petioles ± winged);

blades obovate to oblong, 4–10 × 2–4+ cm, mostly lyrate-pinnatifid to pinnate, bases tapered, ultimate margins dentate (distal leaves similar, smaller, sessile).

Ray florets

± 8 or ± 13;

corolla laminae 5–12 mm.

± 13;

corolla laminae 5–8 mm.

Phyllaries

(± 8) ± 13 or ± 21, 5–9 mm, tips black (villous).

(± 13) ± 21, 5–6+ mm, tips black.

Calyculi

of (1–)3–6 linear to filiform bractlets (lengths to 1/3 phyllaries).

of 4–10+ bractlets (1–2+ mm).

Heads

(1–)4–12 in corymbiform arrays.

(3–)6–20 in open, cymiform arrays.

Cypselae

glabrous.

usually hairy.

2n

= 40.

= 20.

Senecio crassulus

Senecio squalidus

Phenology Flowering summer. Flowering late winter–spring or fall.
Habitat Moist to drying hillsides, meadows, other open places in forest associations Disturbed sites (in regions of cool, damp climates)
Elevation 2200–3700 m (7200–12100 ft) 0–300 m (0–1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NS; Europe [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Senecio squalidus is native in Europe, where it is a common weed. It is apparently established in the San Francisco Bay area, California and has been reported from British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. It is to be expected elsewhere.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 551. FNA vol. 20, p. 560.
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. bigelovii, S. blochmaniae, S. californicus, S. cannabifolius, S. clarkianus, 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. 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. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
Synonyms S. lapathifolius, S. semiamplexicaulis
Name authority A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 19: 54. (1883) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 869. (1753)
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