Flora of North America species comparison

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Senecio viscosus

stickly groundsel, sticky ragwort
Habit Annuals, (10–)20–40(–60) cm (taprooted).
Herbage

densely fetid-viscid (hairs glandular).
Stems

single.
Leaves

evenly distributed;

petiolate;

blades obovate to oblong (pinnately dissected to pinnatifid), 2–7 × 1.5–4 cm, bases tapered or ± truncate, ultimate margins wavy or crenate-dentate (distal leaves sessile, smaller, ± clasping).
Ray florets

± 13;

corolla laminae 1–2 mm (usually coiled, scarcely surpassing phyllaries).
Phyllaries

(± 13) ± 21, 5–7 mm, tips black.
Calyculi

of 2–5 bractlets (largest to 4 mm).
Heads

(1–)3–8(–30) in irregular, corymbiform arrays.
Cypselae

usually glabrous, sometimes hairy.
2n

= 40.

Senecio viscosus
Phenology Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat Disturbed sites, especially open sandy or gravelly places
Elevation 1–300 m (0–1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CT; IL; MA; ME; MN; NH; NJ; NY; PA; RI; WI; AB; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC; SK; SPM; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Senecio viscosus is a smelly, Eurasian weed now widely scattered in areas of cool damp climates, often as a casual waif. The viscid hairs trap wind-blown particles of sand, dust, and soot, which give the surfaces varying textures and colors.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 562.
Parent taxa 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. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753)
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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