Scientific Name:
Senecio vulgaris
Pronunciation:
suh-NEE-see-oh vul-GAIR-iss
Common Name:
groundsel
Family Name:
Asteraceae
Plant Type:
Annual, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Leaves sessile with two rounded lobes at the base of the stem (auriculate) and sub-clasping above; flower heads ray-less with 8-10 small cylinder shaped disc florets (6-13mm) above a conspicuous ring of black tipped bracts forming the base of the inflorescence.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Irregular
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
(unknown)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Landscape Uses:
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Sessile
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Oblanceolate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Auriculate, Sheathing
Margins:
Dentate, Pinnately lobed
Inflorescence Type:
Small heads arranged in a cyme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Corolla Shape:
Tubular
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Yellow
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Fruit Type:
Cypsela (achene + calyx)
Fruit Colour:
White, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
Specific Pests:
A host for the black root rot fungus (a disease of many vegetalble plants)
