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heath groundsel, wood groundsel, woodland groundsel, woodland ragwort

openwoods ragwort

Habit Annuals, (15–)30–80+ cm (taproots fibrous-rooted). Perennials, (20–)30–60 cm (rhizomes branched, spreading or suberect).
Herbage

puberulent (hairs abundant, curly).

(unevenly purple-tinged, often glaucous) glabrous.

Stems

single.

1–(2–3).

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 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).

Ray florets

0 or 1–8+;

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

0.

Phyllaries

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

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

Calyculi

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

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

Heads

12–24 in corymbiform arrays.

25–60+ in cymiform clusters of 3–12.

Cypselae

hairy (especially on angles).

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio rapifolius

Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (northern areas of cool, climate); winter (southern areas). Flowering late summer–early fall.
Habitat Mildly disturbed woodlands, open, sandy sites Rocky hillsides and cliffs in coniferous wooded areas
Elevation 100–300 m (300–1000 ft) 1800–2800 m (5900–9200 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; ID; SD; 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. FNA vol. 20, p. 553.
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. 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
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 409. (1841)
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