Senecio latifolius
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba rd, nr Eagle School rd junction
Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba rd, nr Eagle School rd junction
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| Synonyms: |
Senecio pergamentaceus Baker Senecio sceleratus Schweick. |
| Common names: | Noxious ragwort (English) |
| Frequency: | Common |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Erect herb, growing annual stems from a perennial rootstock. It belongs to a group of closely related species, including S. venosus, S. retrorsus and S. pergamentaceus. All are erect perennial plants with glaucous, elliptic leaves, which clasp around the stem. S. latifolius lacks the clear translucent veining when held against the light. |
| Type location: |
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| Notes: |
It is noted in Flora Zambesiaca that the name S. venosus, although used in the region, is only from the Cape in South Africa but should likely be treated as a synonym. However we have always believed both taxa are present at least in Zimbabwe and, though similar in appearance, can be distinguished by the clearly visible translucent venation in S. venosus, which is absent in S. latifolius. The new shoots appear after winter when grass cover is short and it is therefore likely to be grazed by lifestock. This can have serious consequences as the plants contain a cumulative poison, which has proven deadly to cattle and horses. The toxin is a pyrrolizidine alkaloid which cause acute or chronic liver toxicity resulting in necrosis and cirrhosis (chronic cases) of the liver. The disease condition is known as seneciosis, or Molteno straining disease in cattle, while in horses it is often called 'dunsiekte' (slim disease). Source: Roy Wakefield. |
| Derivation of specific name: | latifolius: broad-leaved |
| Habitat: | A plant of grassland and vlei margins, often on overgrazed or burned ground. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | Above 1000 m |
| Flowering time: | Sep - Feb |
| Worldwide distribution: | Angola, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini and northern South Africa. |
| FZ divisions: | N,WC,E |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Saturday 8 September 2007 |
| Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 214. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 168 - 169. (Includes a picture). Beentje, H.J. & Ghazanfar, S.A. (eds.) (2005). Compositae (Part 3) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 643. as S. pergamentaceus Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 105. also as S. pergamentaceus Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 50. also as S. pergamentaceus Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 34. Hind, D.J.N., Beentje, H.J. & Loeuille, B.F.P. (2026). Compositae - Senecioneae Flora Zambesiaca 6(4) Pages 41 - 42. Jeffrey, C. (1986). The Senecioneae in East Tropical Africa: Notes on Compositae: IV Kew Bulletin 41(4) Page 896. as S. pergamentaceus Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 147. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 28. also as S. pergamentaceus Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 33. also as S. pergamentaceus Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 149, plate 192 Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 38. Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Pages 14 - 17. as Senecio scleratus (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 57. Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 74. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 89. |
Other sources of information about Senecio latifolius:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Senecio latifoliusFlora of Malawi: Senecio latifolius
Flora of Mozambique: Senecio latifolius
Flora of Zambia: Senecio latifolius
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Senecio latifoliusAfrican Plant Database: Senecio latifolius
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Senecio latifolius
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Senecio latifolius
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Senecio latifolius
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Senecio latifolius
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Senecio latifolius
JSTOR Plant Science: Senecio latifolius
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Senecio latifolius
Plants of the World Online: Senecio latifolius
Tropicos: Senecio latifolius
Wikipedia: Senecio latifolius