Senecio squarrosus
Leafy Fireweed
Erect to sprawling unbranched herb growing annually from perennial underground stems. Taproot is poorly developed. Stems may have scattered coarse hairs, becoming hairless.
Additional information
- FamilyAsteraceae
- StoreyLower storey
- Sizeto 60 cm high
- Plant groupingHerbs & Groundcovers <1m
- LeavesLance-shaped to narrow-elliptic stalkless leaves 5-13 cm x 4-15 mm, broader at the tips; short coarse hairs, becoming hairless above, hairless or wispy hairs with warty bases below; margins toothed. Upper leaves becoming very narrow, base lobed.
- Flower colourYellowish
- Flowering timeOctober to December
- FlowersOpen branched terminal clusters of 5-20 well displayed bell-shaped, rayless daisy flowerheads. Seeds black with rows of short hairs.
- Bird attractingNo
- Butterfly attractingFood plant for caterpillars
- Frog habitatNo
- Growing conditionsMoist soils in low lying areas and swamp margins of riparian woodland. Full sun, semi shade. A rare plant for the Shire and east of Melbourne.
- Garden useGrow in moist areas.
- Commercially availableWholesale only - order in advance
- Conservation statusSignificant within the Shire. Known from very few local sites. Uncommon in Victoria.
- Related speciesSenecio psilocarpus was separated from S. squarrosus. It is less hairy with smaller flowerheads and hairless, shiny reddish seeds.
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1 Kevin Sparrow, NatureShare ©; 2, 3 Russell Best ©
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