Senecio glossanthus facts for kids

Senecio glossanthus is a small plant that grows every year. It's found naturally in Australia. People often call it the slender groundsel, especially in Western Australia.

What Does the Slender Groundsel Look Like?

This plant is an annual herb, which means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces new seeds, and then dies all within one year. It usually stands up straight and can grow up to about 70 centimeters (27 inches) tall, but it's often shorter, around 30 centimeters (12 inches).

The slender groundsel doesn't have many hairs on its stems. It also doesn't have many branches, except for the parts where its flowers grow. The flowers of this plant are bright yellow.

How Did It Get Its Name?

Scientists give plants and animals special names so everyone knows exactly which one they are talking about. This is called taxonomy.

• In 1853, a scientist named Otto Wilhelm Sonder first described this plant. He gave it the name Erechtites glossantha.
• Later, in 1867, another scientist named George Bentham thought it belonged in a different group of plants called Senecio. He tried to rename it S. brachyglossus.
• However, the rules for naming plants say you should try to keep the original part of the name if possible. So, Bentham's name wasn't quite right.
• Finally, in 1956, a scientist named Robert Orange Belcher correctly moved the plant into the Senecio group. He used a name that followed the rules: Senecio glossanthus. This is the name we use today.

Where Does It Grow?

The slender groundsel is found across many parts of mainland Australia. It grows in areas with a mild climate, which are called temperate parts. You can find it in every state on the Australian mainland.