Senecio barbertonicus
Species of shrub
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Senecio barbertonicus, the Barberton groundsel[3] or succulent bush senecio,[4] is an evergreen succulent shrub of the family Asteraceae and genus Senecio, native to Southern Africa,[2] named after one of its native localities Barberton and is now also being cultivated elsewhere for its drought resistance, clusters of sweetly scented,[4] golden-yellow, tufted flower heads in winter and attractiveness to butterflies,[3] the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) in particular.[5]
| Senecio barbertonicus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Barberton groundsel | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Senecio |
| Species: | S. barbertonicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Senecio barbertonicus | |
 | |
| Range of Senecio barbertonicus. | |
Description
A succulent bush growing over 2 m (6 ft) tall and wide with a fleshy trunk, light green, cylindrical, finger-like leaves 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) in length and 6 to 10 mm (1⁄4 to 3⁄8 in) in diameter, densely packed around the stem and curved at the base to lie parallel to the stem and pointing upwards.[6]
The fragrant yellow flowers, 1 cm (3⁄8 in) wide and 8 cm (3 in) long, bloom July through September,[4] are terminal and produce seeds with a dense tuft of bristles.
Senecio barbertonicus is hardy to at least −4 °C (25 °F).[5]
Distribution
Senecio barbertonicus grows predominantly in rocky grassland and bushveld in Southern Africa in areas ranging from Eswatini and Mozambique, to Eastern parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa[4] at elevations between 34 and 1,700 m (110 and 5,500 ft).[7]
It is locally common in protected areas in eastern, central, and southwestern Eswatini[8] in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North-West.[7]
Gallery
Fruiting flower heads
Mature bush
