Senecio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Script error: No such module "Automated taxobox".

Senecio is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that includes groundsels and some ragworts. Variously circumscribed taxonomically, the genus Senecio is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Plants of the World Online currently accepts 1482 species.[1]

Description

Morphology

File:Senecio squalidus flower (04).jpg
Senecio squalidus flowerheads have the yellow ray florets typical of many species

The flower heads are often rayed (though the type species Senecio vulgaris does not have ray florets), with the heads borne in branched clusters, and usually completely yellow, but green, purple, white and blue flowers are known as well.

In its current circumscription, the genus contains species that are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, small trees, aquatics or climbers.[2]

Chemistry

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are found in all Senecio species. These alkaloids serve as a natural biocides to deter or even kill animals that would eat them. Livestock generally do not find them palatable.[3] Senecio species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species that have developed tolerance for these alkaloids.

Taxonomy

The traditional circumscription of Senecio is artificial, being polyphyletic, even in its new circumscription which is based on genetic data.[4][5] Despite the separation of many species into other genera, the genus still contains c. 1,250 species and is one of the largest genera of flowering plants.[6]

As no morphological synapomorphies are known to determine which species belong to the genus or not, no exact species number is known. The genus has an almost worldwide distribution[4] and evolved in the mid- to late Miocene.[7]

Phylogeny

As of 2007, many genera and the whole tribe were in need of revision. Many species currently placed in the genus need to be transferred to other or new genera, and others have been retransferred to Senecio. In its new delimitation the genus is still not monophyletic.[4]

File:Senecio.barbertonicus.7074.jpg
S. barbertonicus Succulent Bush Senecio

The following genera are currently accepted by Plants of the World Online, and contain species that are or have been included within Senecio.[4]

Page Template:Div col/styles.css has no content.

Etymology

The scientific name Senecio derives from the latin 'senex' which means "old man".

Selected species

Page Template:Stack/styles.css has no content.

File:Senecio serpens 06.jpg
Some of the popular succulent species that were formerly included within Senecio, such as Senecio serpens (pictured) and Senecio rowleyanus, are now placed in the genus Curio.
File:Senecio madagascariensis 7th Brigade Park Chermside IMGP1941.jpg
Senecio madagascariensis, Fireweed
File:Senecio angulatus habitat.jpg
Senecio angulatus, Cape Ivy

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Page Template:Div col/styles.css has no content.

Formerly in Senecio (partial list)

Distribution

The genus Senecio is distributed almost worldwide.[4] It is one of the few genera occurring in all five regions with a Mediterranean climate. Furthermore, species are found in mountainous regions, including tropical alpine-like areas.

References

Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.

  1. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Senecio L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pelser, Pieter B.; Tepe, Eric J.; Kennedy, Aaron H.; Watson, Linda E. (2013-06-10). "The fate of Robinsonia (Asteraceae): sunk in Senecio, but still monophyletic?". Phytotaxa. 5 (1): 31–46. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.5.1.2. ISSN 1179-3163.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) [1992]. Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. p. 156. ISBN 0-87842-280-3. OCLC 25708726.
  4. ^ a b c d e Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pelser, Pieter B.; Nordenstam, Bertil; Kadereit, Joachim W.; Watson, Linda E. (2007). "An ITS Phylogeny of Tribe Senecioneae (Asteraceae) and a New Delimitation of Senecio L". Taxon. 56 (4): 1077. doi:10.2307/25065905. JSTOR 25065905.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Passalacqua, Nicodemo G.; Peruzzi, Lorenzo; Pellegrino, Giuseppe (August 2008). "A Biosystematic Study of the Jacobaea maritima Group (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) in the Central Mediterranean Area". Taxon. 57 (3): 893–906. doi:10.1002/tax.573018. JSTOR 27756716.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Frodin, David G. (2004). "History and concepts of big plant genera". Taxon. 53 (3): 753–76. doi:10.2307/4135449. JSTOR 4135449.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pelser, Pieter B.; Kennedy, Aaron H.; Tepe, Eric J.; Shidler, Jacob B.; Nordenstam, Bertil; Kadereit, Joachim W.; Watson, Linda E. (2010-05-01). "Patterns and causes of incongruence between plastid and nuclear Senecioneae (Asteraceae) phylogenies". American Journal of Botany. 97 (5): 856–873. doi:10.3732/ajb.0900287. ISSN 0002-9122. PMID 21622451.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Norton, D.A. (1986). "Recent changes in the names of New Zealand tree and shrub species" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Forestry. 31: 39–40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sean Claes (2007-04-16). "Proceed With Caution". Kyle, Texas Daily Photo. Retrieved 2008-04-10.

Script error: No such module "Taxonbar". Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Authority control/config' not found.

Retrieved from "https://cosmopedia.co/index.php?title=Senecio&oldid=47354"