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heath groundsel, wood groundsel, woodland groundsel, woodland ragwort

ball-head ragwort, marsh groundsel, mountain marsh butterweed

Habit Annuals, (15–)30–80+ cm (taproots fibrous-rooted). Perennials, (30–)40–80 cm (rhizomes stout).
Herbage

puberulent (hairs abundant, curly).

tomentose, unevenly glabrescent.

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).

reduced distally; petiolate;

blades oblanceolate to elliptic, 4–12x 1–4 cm, bases tapered, margins weakly dentate or denticulate (denticles callous; mid leaves similar, smaller; distal leaves bractlike).

Ray florets

0 or 1–8+;

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

± 13;

corolla laminae 6–10 mm.

Phyllaries

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

(± 13) ± 21, 3–7 mm, tips black or brownish.

Calyculi

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

of 1–5 bractlets (longest 2–3 mm).

Heads

12–24 in corymbiform arrays.

(3–)5–24 in corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

hairy (especially on angles).

usually hairy, sometimes glabrous.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio sphaerocephalus

Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (northern areas of cool, climate); winter (southern areas). Flowering spring–early summer.
Habitat Mildly disturbed woodlands, open, sandy sites Open meadows, especially in coniferous associations
Elevation 100–300 m (300–1000 ft) 1000–1800 m (3300–5900 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
ID; MT; NV; OR; 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. FNA vol. 20, p. 555.
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. rapifolius, S. riddellii, S. sacramentanus, S. scorzonella, S. serra, S. sheldonensis, S. soldanella, S. spartioides, S. spribillei, S. squalidus, S. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
Synonyms S. altus, S. latus, S. lugens var. hookeri
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) Greene: Pittonia 3: 106. (1896)
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