Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Senecio multicapitatus, S. incurvus
Other common names
broom ragwort
broom groundsel
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Senecio flaccidus
Height
7-1/2 to 47-1/4 inches
Riparian
Yes
From taproots forming woody crowns; stems tufted, freely branching and arching upward; very leafy throughout; 1 to 3 minute, inconspicuous bracts; commonly dying back to the ground each winter.
Subshrub, base woody, stems, leaves not wooly-hairy; leaf blades narrow to thread-like, sometimes divided into narrow lobes; flower heads may have 1 to 3 minute, inconspicuous bracts; flower heads of yellow ray and disc in flat-topped rounded clusters.
Habitat
Found on open sites, often dry and disturbed, especially along stream banks and on hillsides.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads yellow, showy and radiate, in compound flat-topped clusters; 10 to 20 heads; bracts 8 to 13 in single series, 1/2 inch long, tips green or minutely black; ray florets 5 per flower head, ray petals 3/4 inch long, yellow; disc florets yellow.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems usually multiple, branching and arching upward; leaves alternate, fleshy, stemless or short-stalked, evenly distributed along stems, narrow or thread-like, 2 to 4 inches long; occasionally thread-like lobes; smooth or sparsely hairy.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Usually hirtellous (minute and somewhat rigid hairs), sometimes smooth; topped with a pappus of capillary (hairlike) bristles.
Fruit type
Achene