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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Water Groundsel
Senecio hydrophilus Nutt.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Composite (Compositae)
Flowering: May-August
Field Marks: This species has mostly basal leaves that are oblong to elliptic and without teeth, unbranched stems, and leaves and stems that are smooth and glaucous.
Habitat: Along streams, in marshes, swamps, sometimes in alkaline habitats.
Habit: Perennial herb with a thickened rootstock and fibrous roots.
Stems: Upright, unbranched, hollow, up to 8 inches long, purplish, smooth, glaucous.
Leaves: Mostly basal, thick, oblong to elliptic, up to 8 inches long, up to 2 inches wide usually without teeth, smooth, glaucous; stem leaves few, smaller, sessile; leaf stalks of basal leaves elongated, winged.
Flowers: Many crowded into heads, with several heads crowded into an inflorescence; each head up to 1 inch across, consisting of 4-8 ray flowers (sometimes more), and a small central disk of disk flowers; bracts subtending each head 8-13, usuall
Sepals: 0.
Petals: Some of them united to form yellow rays, others united to form yellow tubular flowers in the center of the head.
Stamens: 5.
Pistils: Ovary inferior, smooth.
Fruits: Achenes smooth, with fine bristles at the tip.
Notes: The achenes have some importance as food for waterfowl.

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/8/senehydr.htm
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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:28:36 EST
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