Senecio

Senecio
Senecio vulgaris, an illustration from 1885.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Senecioneae
Genus: Senecio
L.
Type species
Senecio vulgaris L.
Species

Some 1500, see text
Synonyms

Dendrosenecio
Jacobaea L.
Culcitium Humb. & Bonpl

Senecio ( /sɨˈniːʃi.oʊ/)[1] is a genus of the daisy family (Asteraceae) that includes ragworts and groundsels. The flower heads are normally rayed, completely yellow, and the heads are borne in branched clusters. Senecio is one of the largest genera of flowering plants,[2] and despite the separation of many species into other genera it still contains c. 1250 species of varied form, including leaf, stem and tuber succulents, annuals, perennials, aquatics, climbers, shrubs and small trees. Some species produce natural biocides (especially alkaloids) to deter or even kill animals that would eat them.

Senecio species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species — see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Senecio. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been found in Senecio nemorensis[3]and in Senecio cannabifolius var. integrilifolius[4]

The name means "old man".

Contents

Selected species

Main article: List of Senecio species

Formerly in Senecio

Synonyms

The following genera contain species that are or have been included within Senecio.[7]

Probable synonyms:


References

  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  2. ^ David G. Frodin (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon 53 (3): 753–776. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449. 
  3. ^ Shi BJ, Xiong AZ, Zheng SS, Chou GX, Wang ZT., "Two new pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Senecio nemorensis." Nat Prod Res. 2010 Dec;24(20):1897-901
  4. ^ Ma H, Yang L, Wang C, Wang Z.."Pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Senecio cannabifolius var. integrilifolius].Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2011 Jan;36(2):166-8. [Article in Chinese]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21506416?dopt=Abstract
  5. ^ Sean Claes (2007-04-16). "Proceed With Caution". Kyle, Texas Daily Photo. http://kyledailyphoto.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html#1746781956987590057. Retrieved 2008-04-10. 
  6. ^ Connecticut Botanical Society (November 13, 2005). "Golden Ragwort". Connecticut Wildflowers. http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/packeraaure.html. Retrieved 2008-02-09. "Golden Ragwort is one of three species of ragwort in Connecticut, all with similar flowers." 
  7. ^ Pelser, Pieter B.; Nordenstam, Bertil; Kadereit, Joachim W.; Watson, Linda E. (November 2007). "An ITS phylogeny of tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) and a new delimitation of Senecio L.". Taxon (International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)) 56 (4): 1077–14E(–1062). doi:10.2307/25065905. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iapt/tax/2007/00000056/00000004/art00009. Retrieved 2008-06-29. 
  8. ^ Norton, D.A. (1986). "Recent changes in the names of New Zealand tree and shrub species". New Zealand Journal of Forestry 31: 39–40. http://www.nzjf.org/free_issues/NZJF31_3_1986/8B94A164-BF7A-4A5B-A45B-3ACE982D0C7C.pdf. 
  9. ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) (2007-05-04). "Genus: Senecio L.". Taxonomy for Plants. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?11063. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 

External links

Wikiversity has bloom time data for Senecio vulgaris on the Bloom Clock 
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Senecio Senecio] at Wikimedia Commons