Senecio eremophilus var. macdougalii (Heller) Cronq.
Family: Asteraceae
MacDougal's ragwort
[Senecio eremophilus subsp. macdougalii (Heller) G.W. Douglas & G. Ruyle-Douglas,  more...]
Senecio eremophilus var. macdougalii image

Heads 20-60. Calyculi: bractlets inconspicuous. Involucres 4-5(-6) mm diam. Phyllaries 3-5 mm, tips usually black, sometimes lightly so. Ray corolla laminae 5-6 mm.

Flowering summer-early fall. Damp and drying habitats, conifer dominated associations, especially road cuts and other disturbed areas; 2400-3600 m; Ariz., N.Mex.

FNA 2006, Kearney and Peebles 1969, McDougall 1973

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Subshrub

General: Herbaceous perennials, to 1 m tall, stems branching above, uniformly leafy to the inflorescence, herbage glabrous to only slightly puberulent.

Leaves: Alternate or basal, the largest up to 15 cm long, pinnately divided or lobed, the lobes toothed or lobed.

Flowers: Heads small, radiate, rays yellow, few, the ligules 3-6 mm long and prominently ribbed, pistillate,the disk flowers yellow, involucres 5-7 mm high, 3-5 mm wide, cylindrical to hemispherical, row of bracts around outer calyx inconspicuous, phyllaries 3-5 mm long, equal, narrow, linear, with longitudinal grooves or furrows (sulcate), often with black tips, occurring in a single series, heads numerous.

Fruits: Achenes terete, ribbed glabrous or pubescent. Pappus of numerous, soft, white, capillary bristles, about as long as the corollas or shorter.

Ecology: Found in damp and drying habitats, conifer dominated associations, especially road cuts and other disturbed areas, from 6,500-10,000 ft (1981-3048 m); flowering July-October.

Distribution: Arizona, New Mexico.

Notes: Look for this species under Senecio Macdougalii in older texts.

Ethnobotany: Unknown

Etymology: Senecio is from senex, old man, which refers to the gray hairs on the seeds, while eremophilus means desert lover.

Synonyms: Senecio macdougalii

Editor: LCrumbacher 2011