kids encyclopedia robot

Senecio triangularis facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Senecio triangularis
Senecio triangularis 0613.JPG
Senecio triangularis in Mount Rainier National Park
Scientific classification
Synonyms

Senecio gibbonsii Greene
Senecio saliens Rydberg
Source: IPNI, FNA.

Senecio triangularis, known as arrowleaf ragwort, arrowleaf groundsel and arrowleaf butterweed, is a species of the genus Senecio and family Asteraceae.

Description

Senecio triangularis 0609
The green involucral bracts have black tips with hairy tufts.

It is similar in form to Senecio serra, both being four feet tall, have narrow and serrated leaves, and are topped with many small, yellow sunflowers. but S. triangularis is more common than S. serra. S. triangularis has single erect stems, reaching up to 10–120 cm (4–47 in) tall. The stems have evenly distributed leaves. The leaves are triangular, with tapered ends, hence the name. The flowers have a prominent central dome, with ray florets around 8 cm wide.

As some plants are diploid, meaning having two sets of chromosomes, this can be used to identify hybrids and classification of groupings. It has been counted as 2n = 40, 80.

It is native to temperate regions of America and is reportedly poisonous to animals.

Taxonomy

It has the common names of arrowleaf ragwort, arrowleaf groundsel, and arrowleaf butterweed.

In the early 1830s, Scottish botanist Thomas Drummond collected this plant, probably on his second trip to the United States. The plant was named by William Hooker, Drummond's mentor, and first published and described by Hooker in 'Flora Boreali-Americana' (Fl. Bor.-Amer.) Vol.1 on page 332 in 1834.

Distribution

Native
Nearctic:
Subarctic America: Northwest Territory, Yukon Territory, Alaska
Western Canada: Alberta, British Columbia
Northwestern United States: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
Southwestern United States: Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico

Source: GRIN,

Habitat

It grows in open woodlands, (mainly coniferous forests) and on rocky stream sides. They can grow at altitudes of between 100 to 3,500 m (330 to 11,480 ft).

kids search engine
Senecio triangularis Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.