Senecio squalidus

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 869. 1753.

Common names: Oxford ragwort
Introduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 560. Mentioned on page 548, 561.

Annuals (or perennials), 15–60+ cm (taprooted). Herbage sparsely, unevenly floccose to subglabrous, glabrescent. Stems single (branching distally). Leaves evenly distributed; petiolate (proximal, petioles ± winged); blades obovate to oblong, 4–10 × 2–4+ cm, mostly lyrate-pinnatifid to pinnate, bases tapered, ultimate margins dentate (distal leaves similar, smaller, sessile). Heads (3–)6–20 in open, cymiform arrays. Calyculi of 4–10+ bractlets (1–2+ mm). Phyllaries (± 13) ± 21, 5–6+ mm, tips black. Ray florets ± 13; corolla laminae 5–8 mm. Cypselae usually hairy. 2n = 20.


Phenology: Flowering late winter–spring or fall.
Habitat: Disturbed sites (in regions of cool, damp climates)
Elevation: 0–300 m

Distribution

V20-1247-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; N.S., Calif., Europe.

Discussion

Senecio squalidus is native in Europe, where it is a common weed. It is apparently established in the San Francisco Bay area, California and has been reported from British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. It is to be expected elsewhere.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.