Flora of North America species comparison

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Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio actinella

heath groundsel, wood groundsel, woodland groundsel, woodland ragwort

Flagstaff ragwort
Habit Annuals, (15–)30–80+ cm (taproots fibrous-rooted). Perennials, (7–)20–30(–40+) cm (rhizomes exfoliating).
Herbage

puberulent (hairs abundant, curly).

densely lanate-tomentose, glabrescent (especially on adaxial faces of leaves).
Stems

single.

single.
Leaves

evenly distributed;

petiolate;

blades obovate to oblong, 3–7(–12) × 1–3(–4) cm, usually 1–2-pinnate, bases tapered, ultimate margins dentate (distal leaves similar, clasping, bractlike).

mostly basal;

petiolate;

blades narrowly obovate, (2–)3–7(–10) × 1–2(–3+) cm, bases tapered, margins subentire to denticulate (cauline leaves bractlike).
Ray florets

0 or 1–8+;

corolla laminae usually 1–2+ mm (barely surpassing phyllaries).

± 13;

corolla laminae usually 8–10 mm (sometimes tubular, unexpanded, heads then perhaps technically disciform).
Phyllaries

± 13 (± 21), 4–7+ mm, tips greenish or minutely black.

± 21, 8–12 mm, tips greenish (with white bristles).
Calyculi

0 or of 1–5+ linear to filiform bractlets.

of (1–)5–8+ linear to filiform bractlets (lengths 1/3–3/4 phyllaries).
Heads

12–24 in corymbiform arrays.

1(–3).
Cypselae

hairy (especially on angles).

hairy.
2n

= 40.

Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio actinella
Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (northern areas of cool, climate); winter (southern areas). Flowering summer.
Habitat Mildly disturbed woodlands, open, sandy sites In duff, rocky woodlands, especially in pine-dominated areas
Elevation 100–300 m [300–1000 ft] 2000–3000 m [6600–9800 ft]
Distribution
from FNA
CA; LA; MA; MI; NJ; OH; OR; PA; WA; WI; BC; NB; NF; NS; PE; QC; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Senecio sylvaticus is a Eurasian weed that favors cool, wet climates. It is well established in coastal areas of the Pacific Coast and in parts of Newfoundland and Quebec; elsewhere in the flora, it appears to be sporadic.

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

Plants of Senecio actinella with relatively small proximal leaves similar to basal leaves and adaxial leaf faces early glabrate have been recognized as var. mogollonicus; the distinction is difficult to maintain. Receptacles in Senecio actinella are sometimes insect-infested.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 563. Treatment author: Theodore M. Barkley†. FNA vol. 20, p. 553. Treatment author: Theodore M. Barkley†.
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. rapifolius, S. riddellii, S. sacramentanus, S. scorzonella, S. serra, S. sheldonensis, S. soldanella, S. spartioides, S. sphaerocephalus, S. spribillei, S. squalidus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
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. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
Synonyms S. actinella var. mogollonicus, S. mogollonicus
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) Greene: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 10: 87. (1883)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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