Ragwort - Senecio (10)

The Senecio genus is a large group which grows in a variety of habitats and life zones, and hybridizes, thus making identification difficult. Ragworts, also commonly called Butterweeds and Groundsels, have yellow daisy-like flowers with only a few ray flowers, usually in clusters. Leaves are basal or alternate on the stem. In 1981 a number of the Senecio genus were moved to the Packera genus. See also Alpine Ragworts, Common Groundsel, Dwarf Mountain Butterweed, Bashful Ragwort and Nodding Ragwort.

	Tall Blacktip Ragwort Senecio atratus Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Black-Tipped Senecio Photo taken on: July 21, 2006 Location: Crested Butte Mountain, GV, CO Life Zones: Subalpine to alpine Habitat: Rocky places and roadsides Grows up to 3 feet tall in clumps with silvery-gray stems and leaves, and black-tipped bracts. Flora of North America reference.
	Thick-leaf Ragwort Senecio crassulus Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Thick-leaved Groundsel, Mountain Meadow Groundsel Photo taken on: July 4, 2007 Location: Poverty Gulch, GV, CO Life Zones: Montane to alpine Habitat: Moist meadows, openings Grows to 20" with thick, finely toothed leaves that clasp the stem. Flower heads have eight to thirteen ray flowers but are up to 2" across. Flora of North America reference.
	King's Ragwort Senecio eremophilus var. kingii Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Western Golden Ragwort Photo taken on: August 6, 2005 Location: Mill Creek Trail, GV, CO Life Zones: Foothills to subalpine Habitat: Meadows and disturbed areas Grows to 3 feet tall on purplish stems. Leaves are 4" long and deeply incised. Flower heads are small. Flora of North America reference.
	Threadleaf Ragwort Senecio flaccidus (S. douglasii) Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Threadleaf Groundsel Photo taken on: May 19, 2009 Location: White Rock Canyon, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Dry rocky, sandy areas, washes Grows to 2 feet wide and high with bluish-green stems and narrow, deeply divided leaves covered in fine white hairs. Flower heads have few ray flowers. Flora of North America reference.
	Lambstongue Ragwort Senecio integerrimus Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Early Spring Senecio, Tall Western Groundsel Photo taken on: June 24, 2009 Location: Brush Creek, GV, CO Life Zones: Foothills to subalpine Habitat: Moist meadows and slopes Grows very upright to 30", with a stout, hollow, cobwebby stem and mostly basal upright leaves. Leaves covered in hairs when young but become smooth with age. Flora of North America reference.
	Tall Ragwort Senecio serra Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Sawleaf Senecio Photo taken on: August 6, 2019 Location: Ohio Creek, GV, CO Life Zones: Montane to subalpine Habitat: Moist woods and openings Grows to 4 feet tall with long, narrow and finely serrated leaves compared to Arrowleaf Ragwort below. Flora of North America reference.
	Broom-like Ragwort Senecio spartioides Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Broom Senecio Photo taken on: August 19, 2008 Location: CO SR 114 Life Zones: Plains to montane Habitat: Disturbed soil, roadsides, sandy, gravelly areas Grows 2-3 feet with woody, erect, leafy stems. Leaves are narrow. Numerous 1½" flowers with few petals grow in flat-topped clusters. Flora of North America reference.
	Broom-like Ragwort Senecio spartioides var. multicapitatus (S. multicapitatus) Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Broom Senecio Photo taken on: September 1, 2008 Location: White Rock, NM Life Zones: Plains to foothills Habitat: Disturbed soil, roadsides Very similar to the species above but the leaves are divided into narrow segments. The USDA recognizes this as a separate species but Flora of North America does not.
	Arrowleaf Ragwort Senecio triangularis Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Arrowleaf Senecio, Triangle-leaved Ragwort Photo taken on: July 20, 2005 Location: Lake Irwin, GV, CO Life Zones: Subalpine Habitat: Wet areas Grows to 4 feet tall. Leaves are long, triangular and toothed. Flora of North America reference.
	Wooton's Ragwort Senecio wootonii Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae) AKA: Photo taken on: July 31, 2005 Location: Poverty Gulch, GV, CO Life Zones: Montane Habitat: Dry rocky slopes Grows to 20" with large, smooth, long-stalked, basal leaves and a few small stem leaves. Edges of leaves may be smooth or have small teeth. Flora of North America reference.

Yellow Round Clusters