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common groundsel, common ragwort, old-man-in-the-spring

Flagstaff ragwort

Habit Annuals, (10–)20–50(–60+) cm (taprooted). Perennials, (7–)20–30(–40+) cm (rhizomes exfoliating).
Herbage

glabrous or sparsely and unevenly tomentose when young.

densely lanate-tomentose, glabrescent (especially on adaxial faces of leaves).

Stems

usually 1.

single.

Leaves

evenly distributed; petiolate;

blades ovate to oblanceolate, 2–10 × 0.5–2(–4) cm, bases tapered, margins lobulate to dentate, ultimate margins often secondarily dentate to denticulate (distal leaves sessile).

mostly basal; petiolate;

blades narrowly obovate, (2–)3–7(–10) × 1–2(–3+) cm, bases tapered, margins subentire to denticulate (cauline leaves bractlike).

Ray florets

0.

± 13;

corolla laminae usually 8–10 mm (sometimes tubular, unexpanded, heads then perhaps technically disciform).

Phyllaries

± 21, 4–6 mm, tips usually green, sometimes black.

± 21, 8–12 mm, tips greenish (with white bristles).

Calyculi

of 2–4(–6+) bractlets (prominent, black-tipped, lengths about 1/4 phyllaries).

of (1–)5–8+ linear to filiform bractlets (lengths 1/3–3/4 phyllaries).

Heads

8–20 in loose, corymbiform arrays.

1(–3).

Cypselae

usually sparsely hairy, sometimes nearly glabrous.

hairy.

2n

= 40.

Senecio vulgaris

Senecio actinella

Phenology Flowering early spring (through summer in far North). Flowering summer.
Habitat Disturbed sites In duff, rocky woodlands, especially in pine-dominated areas
Elevation 1–1000 m (0–3300 ft) 2000–3000 m (6600–9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; AL; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MS; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NV; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; NU; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; SPM; Greenland; Eurasia [Probably introduced]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Senecio vulgaris has not been collected in the Canadian Arctic north of Hudson Bay.

A widely scattered weed of Eurasian origin, Senecio vulgaris is particularly abundant in southern areas of cool damp winters or northern areas of cool damp summers.

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

Plants of Senecio actinella with relatively small proximal leaves similar to basal leaves and adaxial leaf faces early glabrate have been recognized as var. mogollonicus; the distinction is difficult to maintain. Receptacles in Senecio actinella are sometimes insect-infested.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 562. 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. sylvaticus, S. taraxacoides, S. triangularis, S. viscosus, S. warnockii, S. wootonii
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, S. wootonii
Synonyms S. actinella var. mogollonicus, S. mogollonicus
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 867. (1753) Greene: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 10: 87. (1883)
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