Senecio inornatus DC.

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Erect perennial herb 1–2 m high; stems winged in the lower part, glabrous; rhizome creeping.

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves sessile, elliptic-lanceolate, 20–73 cm long (including 4–25 cm long petioloid base), 1.5–10 cm wide, gradually attenuate basally into a narrowly-winged petioloid base, margins dentate, apex acute; stem leaves sessile, ovate-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 6–33 cm long, 1–7.5 cm wide, basally attenuate into an entire-winged, not or slightly expanded and decurrent petioloid base, margins denticulate, apex acute or shortly acuminate; all leaves bright green, with thick pallid midrib, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula radiate, erect, numerous in copious lax to congested terminal corymbs; stalks of the individual capitula glabrous or shortly glandular-pubescent below capitula; involucre shortly hairy at the base, cylindrical, 6–7.5 mm long, 2.5–4 mm in diameter; bracts of calyculus 2–6, lanceolate, 1.5–5 mm long; phyllaries 10–16, yellow-green, sometimes with black tips, 4–7.5 mm long, glabrous or almost so, bearded at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Ray florets 5–8, golden yellow to yellow-orange, corolla tube 2.5–4 mm long, glandular-hairy, rays 5–9.5 mm long, 2–3.5 mm wide, 4–9-veined; disc florets bright yellow, with yellow styles and brown or yellow anthers, corolla 5–8 mm long, gradually expanded above the middle, glabrous or almost so, lobes 1–1.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes ellipsoid, 4 mm long, angled, glabrous or slightly hairy; pappus 5–7.5 mm long.

Habitat

Upland grassland, forest margins, may be abundant near streams; once recorded as a weed in pyrethrum; 1600–2700 m

Distribution

T7