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openwoods ragwort

California butterweed, California ragwort

Habit Perennials, (20–)30–60 cm (rhizomes branched, spreading or suberect). Annuals, (5–)10–30(–50+) cm (taprooted).
Herbage

(unevenly purple-tinged, often glaucous) glabrous.

glabrous or sparsely tomentose.

Stems

1–(2–3).

usually single (erect), sometimes 2–6 (branching from bases, arching upward).

Leaves

progressively reduced distally; petiolate;

blades ovate to oblanceolate, 4–8(–9+) × (2–)3–5 cm, bases tapered, margins dentate to incised-dentate (some denticles callous; mid leaves similar, smaller, ± clasping; distal leaves bractlike).

(sometimes subsucculent) evenly distributed; ± petiolate (proximal);

blades linear-lanceolate to lanceolate 2–5(–7+) × 0.5–2(–3+) cm, bases tapered, margins subpinnatifid to dentate or subentire (mid and distal leaves sessile, bases clasping).

Ray florets

0.

± 13;

corolla laminae 8–11 mm.

Phyllaries

(± 5) ± 8, 3–4(–5) mm, tips green or brownish.

± 21 (sometimes fewer), 5–7(–8) mm, tips black.

Calyculi

0 or of 1–3+ lance-deltate to lance-linear bractlets (mostly less than 1 mm).

of 5–8+ lanceolate to lance-linear or filiform bractlets (0.5–3 mm, usually inconspicuous).

Heads

25–60+ in cymiform clusters of 3–12.

usually 3–10(–20+) in open, cymiform arrays, sometimes borne singly (depauperate plants).

Cypselae

glabrous.

hirtellous-strigose.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio rapifolius

Senecio californicus

Phenology Flowering late summer–early fall. Flowering late winter–spring.
Habitat Rocky hillsides and cliffs in coniferous wooded areas Sandy, dry or drying sites, especially near coast
Elevation 1800–2800 m (5900–9200 ft) 0–1200 m (0–3900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; ID; SD; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; Mexico
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[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Dwarfish, subsucculent plants of Senecio californicus from near the coast have been recognized as S. ammophilus.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 553. FNA vol. 20, p. 561.
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. 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. 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. 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
Synonyms S. ammophilus, S. californicus var. ammophilus, S. coronopus
Name authority Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 409. (1841) de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 6: 426. (1838)
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