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

stickly groundsel, sticky ragwort

Habit Perennials, (15–)20–50(–70) cm (rhizomes branched, ± woody). Annuals, (10–)20–40(–60) cm (taprooted).
Herbage

glabrous.

densely fetid-viscid (hairs glandular).

Stems

1–(2–4).

single.

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;

blades obovate to oblong (pinnately dissected to pinnatifid), 2–7 × 1.5–4 cm, bases tapered or ± truncate, ultimate margins wavy or crenate-dentate (distal leaves sessile, smaller, ± clasping).

Ray florets

± 8 or ± 13;

corolla laminae 5–12 mm.

± 13;

corolla laminae 1–2 mm (usually coiled, scarcely surpassing phyllaries).

Phyllaries

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

(± 13) ± 21, 5–7 mm, tips black.

Calyculi

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

of 2–5 bractlets (largest to 4 mm).

Heads

(1–)4–12 in corymbiform arrays.

(1–)3–8(–30) in irregular, corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

glabrous.

usually glabrous, sometimes hairy.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio crassulus

Senecio viscosus

Phenology Flowering summer. Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat Moist to drying hillsides, meadows, other open places in forest associations Disturbed sites, especially open sandy or gravelly places
Elevation 2200–3700 m (7200–12100 ft) 1–300 m (0–1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CT; IL; MA; ME; MN; NH; NJ; NY; PA; RI; WI; AB; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC; SK; SPM; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Senecio viscosus is a smelly, Eurasian weed now widely scattered in areas of cool damp climates, often as a casual waif. The viscid hairs trap wind-blown particles of sand, dust, and soot, which give the surfaces varying textures and colors.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 551. FNA vol. 20, p. 562.
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. squalidus, S. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, 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: 868. (1753)
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