Fireweed groundsel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fireweed groundsel |
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Senecio linearifolius, often called fireweed groundsel, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes daisies and sunflowers! This plant is a small shrub with yellow flowers. You can find it growing in parts of Australia, like Tasmania, New South Wales, and Victoria.
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What Does Fireweed Groundsel Look Like?
Fireweed groundsel is a plant that can grow up to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. It's a perennial, which means it lives for more than two years. Its stems have soft, white hairs. The plant also has a nice smell.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the fireweed groundsel can look different from plant to plant. They can be long and thin, or shaped like an egg. They are usually between 5 and 20 centimeters (2-8 inches) long. The leaves might be smooth, wavy, or have small teeth along their edges. Sometimes, they attach directly to the stem without a stalk. Both sides of the leaves are covered with soft, white hairs.
The flowers grow in a special cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster can have anywhere from 20 to 200 flowers! It forms a flat-topped shape, like a corymb, about 4 to 15 centimeters (1.5-6 inches) wide. Each small flower group has 4 to 8 individual yellow flowers in the center.
Fruit and Flowering Time
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces small fruits. These fruits are called cypselas and are shaped like narrow oblongs. They are very tiny, only about 1.5 to 2 millimeters long. Their color can be light or reddish-brown. The surface of the fruit might have scattered hairs or bands of hairs. Fireweed groundsel usually flowers from November to March.
How Did Fireweed Groundsel Get Its Name?
The plant Senecio linearifolius was first officially described by a scientist named Achille Richard. He wrote about it in a book called Voyage de Decouvertes de l'Astrolabe. Botanique. The second part of its scientific name, linearifolius, helps us understand what the plant looks like. It means "linear-leaved," referring to its long, thin leaves.
Where Does Fireweed Groundsel Grow?
Fireweed groundsel is found in south-eastern Australia. It likes to grow in places that are moist, meaning they have a good amount of water.
Locations in Australia
In New South Wales, you can mostly find it in the mountain ranges. These areas are south of Tenterfield and west towards Nundle. In Victoria, it grows in places like the Grampians, the Brisbane Ranges, and near the towns of Portland and Euroa. It also grows in Tasmania.
