Senecio barbertonicus, the Barberton groundsel[3] or succulent bush senecio,[4] is an evergreen succulent shrub of the family Asteraceae and genus Senecio, native to Southern Africa,[2] named after one of its native localities Barberton and is now also being cultivated elsewhere for its drought resistance, clusters of sweetly scented,[4] golden-yellow, tufted flower heads in winter and attractiveness to butterflies,[3] the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) in particular.[5]
| Senecio barbertonicus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Barberton groundsel | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Senecio |
| Species: | S. barbertonicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Senecio barbertonicus | |
| |
| Range of Senecio barbertonicus. | |
Description
editA succulent bush growing over 2 m (6 ft) tall and wide with a fleshy trunk, light green, cylindrical, finger-like leaves 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) in length and 6 to 10 mm (1⁄4 to 3⁄8 in) in diameter, densely packed around the stem and curved at the base to lie parallel to the stem and pointing upwards.[6]
The fragrant yellow flowers, 1 cm (3⁄8 in) wide and 8 cm (3 in) long, bloom July through September,[4] are terminal and produce seeds with a dense tuft of bristles.
Senecio barbertonicus is hardy to at least −4 °C (25 °F).[5]
Distribution
editSenecio barbertonicus grows predominantly in rocky grassland and bushveld in Southern Africa in areas ranging from Eswatini and Mozambique, to Eastern parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa[4] at elevations between 34 and 1,700 m (110 and 5,500 ft).[7]
It is locally common in protected areas in eastern, central, and southwestern Eswatini[8] in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North-West.[7]
Gallery
edit-
Fruiting flower heads -
Mature bush
References
edit- ^ "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ a b The Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (2006-01-20). "Final Swaziland Tree ATlas index" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b The Friends of U.C. Riverside Botanic Gardens (2007-10-20). "SHRUBS". Archived from the original on September 9, 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b c d Carruthers, Vincent (2005) [2005]. "Wild Flowers". The Wildlife of Southern Africa: A Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region. Struik. pp. 310 pages. ISBN 1-86872-451-4. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b "Senecio barbertonicus - Succulent Bush Senecio". San Marcos Growers Web Site. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Senecio barbertonicus Klatt". Swaziland's Flora Database. South African National Botanical Institute (PRECIS database) and the Swaziland National Herbarium. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b "Senecio barbertonicus Klatt". African Flowering Plants Database. Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ The Southern African Botanical Diversity Network. "SABONET Tree Atlas Report No. 38" (PDF). Swaziland Tree Atlas. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
Further reading
edit
Media related to Senecio barbertonicus at Wikimedia Commons- Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal - Elsa Pooley (Natal Flora Trust, Durban 1998) ISBN 0-620-21500-3
- "The Succulent Senecios of South Africa". The Guide to Life, The Universe and Everything. 2003-07-13. Archived from the original on 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
