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stickly groundsel, sticky ragwort

dandelion ragwort

Habit Annuals, (10–)20–40(–60) cm (taprooted). Perennials, 5–10(–14) cm (caudices branched, fibrous-rooted).
Herbage

densely fetid-viscid (hairs glandular).

(sometimes purple-tinged) floccose-tomentose (persistently on abaxial faces of leaves, glabrescent elsewhere).

Stems

single.

single or loosely clustered.

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).

± evenly distributed;

petiolate;

blades oblanceolate to ovate, (1–)2–6 × 1–2.5 cm, bases tapered, margins dentate or incised to subpinnatifid (distal leaves bractlike).

Ray florets

± 13;

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

usually ± 13, sometimes fewer or 0;

corolla laminae 8–12 mm.

Phyllaries

(± 13) ± 21, 5–7 mm, tips black.

± 13 or ± 21, 7–10 mm, tips green.

Calyculi

of 2–5 bractlets (largest to 4 mm).

of 2–5 lance-linear bractlets (lengths 1/3–2/3 phyllaries).

Heads

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

1(–5).

Cypselae

usually glabrous, sometimes hairy.

glabrous.

2n

= 40.

= 40.

Senecio viscosus

Senecio taraxacoides

Phenology Flowering spring–fall. Late summer.
Habitat Disturbed sites, especially open sandy or gravelly places Alpine peaks
Elevation 1–300 m (0–1000 ft) 3500–4000 m (11500–13100 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]
from FNA
CO; NM
[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. FNA vol. 20, p. 551.
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. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, 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. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. vulgaris, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
Synonyms S. amplectens var. taraxacoides, Ligularia taraxacoides
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 868. (1753) (A. Gray) Greene: Pittonia 4: 119. (1900)
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