Scientific Name : Senecio inexpectatus
Author : (Cronq.) Al Schneid.
NatureServe Explorer
Common Name : Prickly Groundsel
Current Research Activities
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Taxonomy
Asteraceae (sunflower family)
Not included in Ackerfield (2015, 2022). Often treated as a variety of Senecio fremontii (FNA 2006). Nesom (2019) published the elevation of Senecio fremontii var. inexpecatus to full species as Senecio inexpectatus. Nesom (2019) recognizes three species: Senecio inexpectatus, S. blitoides, and S. fremontii (including S. fremontii var. fremontii and S. fremontii var. occidentalis), rather than four varieties of S. fremontii as Flora of North America (2006) and Kartesz (1999) did (NatureServe 2023). This taxon was documented in Colorado by Al Schneider in 2008 (CNHP 2022).
Ranks and Status
State Rank : S1
State Rank Reason : Senecio inexpectatus is known from one site in Dolores County, Colorado, USA.
U.S. Endangered Species Act : none
Colorado Threatened and Endangered List : none
Other Statuses : SWAP SGIN
Description and Phenology
General Description:
Plants 1â2+ dm. Stems mostly arching upward. Leaves usually smaller than 4 Ã 2 cm, bases not clasping, margins notably laciniate to laciniate-toothed or -lobed (the lobes sometimes also toothed). Heads 1â2(â4). Phyllaries (-± 8) -± 13, 7â10 mm (Flora of North America 1993+). 8-11 ray flowers (Nesom 2019).
Look Alikes:
Similar to Senecio blitoides, which has more ray flowers (12-14), and may occasionally have leaves with deeply toothed margins, but none that are consistently laciniate as in S. inexpectatus (Nesom 2019).
Phenology:
Flowers in late summer.
Habitat
On gray Mancos shale above treeline with Penstemon harbourii, Smelowskia calycina, Mertensia lanceolata, Trifolium attenuatum, Aquilegia coerulea, Erysimum capitatum (Nesom 2019).
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Elevation Range:
10,000 - 11,000 feet (3,048 - 3,353 meters)
Distribution
Colorado Endemic:
No
Range:
Senecio inexpectatus is known from one site in Dolores County, Colorado, USA. This species can also be found in Utah, USA.
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Threats and Management Issues
Specific threats in Colorado have not been documented. Issues related to climate change present concerns.
References
- Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). 2022. Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation System (Biotics 5). Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
- Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). 2023. Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation System (Biotics 5). Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee, ed. (FNA). 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. Oxford Univ. Press, New York, Oxford.
- Nesom, G.L. 2019. Senecio fremontii seusu lato (Asteraceae) includes three species. Phytoneuron 2019-35: 1-35.
- Schneider, A. 2023. Wildflowers, Ferns, and Trees of the Four Corners Regions of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Accessed on-line at http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com.
