Senecio mohavensis
Encyclopedia
Senecio mohavensis is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name Mojave ragwort. It is native to the deserts of the American southwest around the intersection of California
and Nevada
with Arizona
, its distribution extending across the border into northern Mexico. It grows in sandy and rocky habitat. It is an annual herb producing a single branching erect stem up to 30 or 40 centimeters in maximum height from a twisted taproot
. It is mostly hairless and green to purple in color. The leaves have lobed or toothed blades a few centimeters long, the lower on short petioles
and those higher on the plant with wide bases that clasp the stem. The inflorescence
is a spreading array of several flower head
s filled with yellow disc florets. Some heads have tiny ray florets that may be tucked out of view within the phyllaries
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common name Mojave ragwort. It is native to the deserts of the American southwest around the intersection of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
with Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, its distribution extending across the border into northern Mexico. It grows in sandy and rocky habitat. It is an annual herb producing a single branching erect stem up to 30 or 40 centimeters in maximum height from a twisted taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
. It is mostly hairless and green to purple in color. The leaves have lobed or toothed blades a few centimeters long, the lower on short petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
and those higher on the plant with wide bases that clasp the stem. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a spreading array of several flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
s filled with yellow disc florets. Some heads have tiny ray florets that may be tucked out of view within the phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
.