242 COMPOSITyE. 



SENECIO. F.B.I. Lxxix. 



Ragwort, 



Herbs or shrubs, erect or climbing, with alternate 

 leaves and yellow-rayed flower-heads characterised by 

 the involucral bracts narrow but not attenuate, usually 

 all equal in one circle only or with a few outer smaller and 

 filiform ; anther bases rounded ; and stylar arms truncate, 

 recurved. Achenes five to ten-ribbed, with copious 

 pappus. 



Species about 900 in temperate climates (in the tropics on 

 mountains). 



In Europe are several species Groundsel, Ragwort, Ger. Kreuzkraut, 

 Kreuzwurz ; Fr. Senecon, Jacobee. 



Scnccio zcylanicus DC. ; F.B.I, iii 340, LXXIX 8 ; 

 Grassy Ragwort. Distinguished by its very narrow, 

 entire, almost grass-like, leaves. 



Stem puberous-pubescent, I to 3 feet, slender. Lower 

 leaves 4 to 6 by J^ to J^ inch, one-nerved, occasionally 

 toothed ; upper narrower. Corymbs 6 inches broad, with 

 slender bracts at the forkings. Heads Y^ inch : bracts 

 54 inch, pubescent, suddenly ending in long points. 

 Achenes black, strongly ribbed, minutely scabrid. 

 Pappus white. 



Pulneys : on the downs. Fyson 3037. "Pourne 1566, 1570. 



Gen. Dist. Mountains of Travancore and Ceylon. 



Senecio nilghcryanus Wight; Herh. Prop. 1482!; 

 F.B.L iii 341 as of DC, LXXIX 9 ; Nilgiri Ragwort. 

 Distinguished by its oblong or oblanceolate, very 

 distantly toothed leaves. 



Stem shrubby below, nearly glabrous or cottony, 

 ribbed or angled, leafy. Leaves 3 to 5 inches, oblong 

 oblanceolate, from a narrow auricled base, scabrid 

 above, hirsute-tomentose below, acute, distantly toothed, 

 one-nerved. Heads i inch, not numerous, in open 



