The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

heath groundsel, wood groundsel, woodland groundsel, woodland ragwort

beach groundsel, seaside ragwort

Habit Annuals, (15–)30–80+ cm (taproots fibrous-rooted). Perennials, (15–)20–60(–100) cm (caudices erect).
Herbage

puberulent (hairs abundant, curly).

arachno-tomentose to sericeous-lanate (especially on abaxial faces of phyllaries), unevenly glabrescent.

Stems

single.

single (turgid).

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).

evenly distributed (proximal withering before flowering);

subsessile or petiolate;

blades obovate to oblanceolate, 5–15(–25) × 2–6(–10) cm, bases tapered, margins serrate-dentate to denticulate or subentire (distal leaves slightly smaller).

Ray florets

0 or 1–8+;

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

usually ± 21, rarely 0;

corolla laminae 20–25 mm.

Phyllaries

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

± 21, 8–15 mm (sometimes purplish or pinkish-tinged), tips greenish.

Calyculi

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

of 6–10 linear bractlets (longest nearly equaling phyllaries).

Heads

12–24 in corymbiform arrays.

1–5(–15+) in corymbiform arrays (involucres notably large, 20–40 mm diam.).

Cypselae

hairy (especially on angles).

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio pseudoarnica

Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (northern areas of cool, climate); winter (southern areas). Flowering summer.
Habitat Mildly disturbed woodlands, open, sandy sites Sandy-gravelly ocean shores and upper beaches
Elevation 100–300 m (300–1000 ft) 0 m (0 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
AK; ME; BC; NB; NL; NS; QC; SPM; ne Asia
[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.)

Rayless individuals of Senecio pseudoarnica have been recognized as var. rollandii or forma rollandii (Victorin) Fernald; they are not otherwise distinctive.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 563. FNA vol. 20, p. 568.
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. 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. 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 Arnica maritima, S. pseudoarnica var. rollandii, S. rollandii
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) Lessing: Linnaea 6: 240. (1831)
Web links