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heath groundsel, wood groundsel, woodland groundsel, woodland ragwort

Wooton's butterweed, Wooton's ragwort

Habit Annuals, (15–)30–80+ cm (taproots fibrous-rooted). Perennials, (15–)20–45(–60) cm (caudices erect or weakly spreading).
Herbage

puberulent (hairs abundant, curly).

nearly always glaucous, glabrous.

Stems

single.

single or clustered.

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).

(thickish and turgid) progressively reduced distally; petiolate;

blades ovate or obovate to lanceolate, 4–9(–15+) × 1.5–3(–4+) cm, bases tapered, margins wavy or subentire (often with callous denticles; mid and distal leaves sessile, bractlike).

Ray florets

0 or 1–8+;

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

8–10;

corolla laminae 4–10 mm.

Phyllaries

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

± 13 (± 21), 6–9 mm, tips green to brownish (not blackened).

Calyculi

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

of 1–3+ oblong to lance-linear bractlets (less than 3 mm).

Heads

12–24 in corymbiform arrays.

(3–)8–24+ in corymbiform arrays.

Cypselae

hairy (especially on angles).

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio sylvaticus

Senecio wootonii

Phenology Flowering late spring–summer (northern areas of cool, climate); winter (southern areas). Flowering spring–summer.
Habitat Mildly disturbed woodlands, open, sandy sites Damp or drying sites, often in rocky, moderately disturbed sites
Elevation 100–300 m (300–1000 ft) 2000–3500 m (6600–11500 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
AZ; CO; NM; TX; 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.)

Senecio wootonii reaches its southern limit in Coahuila and Chihuahua, Mexico; farther south, it is replaced by S. toluccanus de Candolle, a similar, larger, more robust species.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 563. FNA vol. 20, p. 554.
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. sphaerocephalus, S. spribillei, S. squalidus, S. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii
Synonyms S. anacletus
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) Greene: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 25: 122, plate 331, figs. 1, 2. (1898)
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