Woolly Ragwort (Senecio littoralis) endemic Falklands

Discussion in 'Botany Photo of the Day Submissions' started by Krystyna Szulecka, Jan 7, 2008.

  1. Krystyna Szulecka

    Krystyna Szulecka Active Member

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    Location:
    Leeds, West Yorkshire UK
    Woolly Ragwort (Senecio littoralis) endemic plant, flowers on Carcass Island, West Falkland, South Atlantic Ocean, December
     

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  2. Liz

    Liz Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Location:
    Victoria Australia [cool temperate]
    Is this one related to my favourite noxious weed. In this case " Senecio jacobaea Linnaeus"?

    http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreni...56BCF000AD54DECC844336D72F0634A256DEA00293F8A

    It is such a demure little thing in it's home environ even pretty. Let it loose in the colonies and it has taken over Tasmania and trying to do the same to Victoria. I have had it on my property once in 20 years and fortunatley managed to stop it from seeding before it took off. This plant grows to about 4 foot here and takes whole fields over and makes it next to useless grazing ground. If I see it on the side of the road around here I stop and get out of the car pull it up and place it in the middle of the road for the cars to pulp it. Every where you go you see others have done it too. The council also has signs out during flowering season warning people to remove it. They also have several teams eradicating it.

    We seem to have this one also refered to as Wooly Ragwort (Senecio garlandii)
    which is endangered. It looks similar to the weed one but it grows in dry areas. The weed grows in good pasture

    http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10750

    Liz
     
  3. Krystyna Szulecka

    Krystyna Szulecka Active Member

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    Location:
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    Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is regarded as a weed in UK too. Senecio jacobaea and Senecio littoralis belong to the some family (Asteraceae) and genus (Senecio) but are of different species. Although Senecio littoralis is described as common, in two weeks I traveled and photographed in Falklands, I come across only one plant in Carcass Island. Others in my group did not see another plant either.
    It was in December when it was in flower and it should have been easy to spot.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senecio_littoralis
    It is endemic to the Falkland Islands. Its natural habitats are temperate shrub land, rocky areas, and rocky shores. It is threatened by habitat loss.
    Please see a description which accompany the stamp featuring Woolly Falkland Ragwort, Senecio littoralis (note it is worth 50p)
    http://www.filahome-stamps.com/stamps/0609-bleaker-island.htm
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragwort


    Thank you very much for taking interest
    Krystyna Szulecka
    Below close up of the flower:
     

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    Last edited: Jan 8, 2008

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