Senecio triangularis
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Senecio triangularis, known as arrowleaf ragwort,[3] arrowleaf groundsel and arrowleaf butterweed, is a species of the genus Senecio and family Asteraceae.
| Senecio triangularis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Senecio triangularis in Mount Rainier National Park | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Senecio |
| Species: | S. triangularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Senecio triangularis | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Senecio gibbonsii Greene | |
Description
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.[4] S. triangularis has single erect stems, reaching up to 10–120 cm (4–47 in) tall.[5] The stems have evenly distributed leaves.[2] The leaves are up to 20 cm (8 in) long and triangular with tapered ends,[2][4] hence the name.[6]
The green involucral bracts have black tips with hairy tufts.[7] On display from June to September, the yellow flower heads are up to 4 cm (1+1⁄2 in) wide, with about 8 rays around a disk.[6]
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.[2]
Flower close-up
Taxonomy
It has the common names of arrowleaf ragwort, arrowleaf groundsel,[5] 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 Drummond's mentor, William Jackson Hooker, who first published and described it in 1834.[2][4]
Distribution and habitat
It is native to temperate regions of America:[8]
- 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
It grows in open woodlands, (mainly coniferous forests) and on rocky stream sides.[2][4] They can grow at altitudes of between 100 and 3,500 m (330 and 11,480 ft).[2]
Ecology
It is reportedly poisonous to animals.[9]
