Flora of North America species comparison

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Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio californicus

heath groundsel, wood groundsel, woodland groundsel, woodland ragwort

California butterweed, California ragwort
Habit Annuals, (15–)30–80+ cm (taproots fibrous-rooted). Annuals, (5–)10–30(–50+) cm (taprooted).
Herbage

puberulent (hairs abundant, curly).

glabrous or sparsely tomentose.
Stems

single.

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

(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 or 1–8+;

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

± 13;

corolla laminae 8–11 mm.
Phyllaries

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

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

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

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

12–24 in corymbiform arrays.

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

hairy (especially on angles).

hirtellous-strigose.
2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio californicus
Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (northern areas of cool, climate); winter (southern areas). Flowering late winter–spring.
Habitat Mildly disturbed woodlands, open, sandy sites Sandy, dry or drying sites, especially near coast
Elevation 100–300 m (300–1000 ft) 0–1200 m (0–3900 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
CA; Mexico
[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.)

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. 563. 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. 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. 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 Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) de Candolle: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 6: 426. (1838)
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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