Senecio triangularis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Senecio triangularis |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Senecio triangularis in Mount Rainier National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Senecio gibbonsii Greene |
Senecio triangularis, also known as arrowleaf ragwort, arrowleaf groundsel, or arrowleaf butterweed, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Senecio group, which is part of the large Asteraceae family. This family includes many well-known plants like sunflowers and daisies!
Contents
What Does Arrowleaf Ragwort Look Like?
This plant can grow quite tall, reaching up to about 120 centimeters (nearly 4 feet!). It has single, straight stems with leaves spread out evenly along them. The leaves are shaped like triangles with pointy ends, which is why it's called "arrowleaf."
The flowers look like small, yellow sunflowers. They have a round center and bright yellow petals, called ray florets, that can be about 8 centimeters wide.
Scientists have studied the plant's chromosomes. Chromosomes are tiny structures inside cells that carry genetic information. Senecio triangularis can have two sets of chromosomes (called diploid) or even four sets. This helps scientists understand how different plant types are related.
It's important to know that this plant can be harmful to animals if they eat it.
How Was This Plant Named?
This plant has a few common names, like arrowleaf ragwort, arrowleaf groundsel, and arrowleaf butterweed.
In the early 1830s, a Scottish plant collector named Thomas Drummond found this plant. His teacher, William Jackson Hooker, later named it Senecio triangularis. Hooker first described the plant in a book called 'Flora Boreali-Americana' in 1834.
Where Does Arrowleaf Ragwort Grow?
This plant is native to cooler parts of America. You can find it in:
- Subarctic America: Places like the Northwest Territory, Yukon Territory, and Alaska.
- Western Canada: Including Alberta and British Columbia.
- Western United States: Such as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
- Southwestern United States: Like Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico.
Source: GRIN
Where Does It Like to Live?
Senecio triangularis likes to grow in open woodlands, especially in coniferous forests (those with pine trees and similar evergreens). It also grows well along rocky stream sides. You can find it at many different heights, from about 100 meters (328 feet) up to 3,500 meters (11,480 feet) above sea level.
