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heath groundsel, wood groundsel, woodland groundsel, woodland ragwort

tall blacktip ragwort

Habit Annuals, (15–)30–80+ cm (taproots fibrous-rooted). Perennials, (20–)35–70(–80+) cm (rhizomes or caudices branched, erect to weakly creeping).
Herbage

puberulent (hairs abundant, curly).

floccose-tomentose to canescent, sometimes unevenly glabrescent.

Stems

single.

1–(2–5).

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).

progressively reduced distally;

petiolate;

blades oblong-ovate to oblanceolate, (5–)10–30 × 1.5–4(–6) cm, bases tapered, margins dentate (denticles, dark, callous; mid leaves similar, sessile, smaller; distal leaves bractlike).

Ray florets

0 or 1–8+;

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

(± 3) ± 5;

corolla laminae 5–8 mm.

Phyllaries

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

(± 5) ± 8, 6–8 mm, tips black.

Calyculi

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

of 2–5 linear bractlets (lengths to 1/3 phyllaries).

Heads

12–24 in corymbiform arrays.

20–60+ in corymbiform or subpaniculiform arrays.

Cypselae

hairy (especially on angles).

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

= 40. (A report of 2n = 46 is presumably erroneous.)

Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio atratus

Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (northern areas of cool, climate); winter (southern areas). Flowering late spring–early fall.
Habitat Mildly disturbed woodlands, open, sandy sites Dry or drying, rocky or sandy sites in coniferous areas, especially sites with frequent disturbance
Elevation 100–300 m [300–1000 ft] 2800–4000 m [9200–13100 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
CO; NM; UT; WY
[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.)

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 563. Treatment author: Theodore M. Barkley†. FNA vol. 20, p. 554. 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. actinella, S. amplectens, S. ampullaceus, S. aphanactis, S. arizonicus, S. aronicoides, S. astephanus, 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. atratus var. milleflorus, S. milleflorus
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) Greene: Pittonia 3: 105. (1896)
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