Dendrosenecio elgonensis is one of the giant groundsel of East Africa; this one is endemic to Mount Elgon. They used to be considered part of the genus Senecio but recently have been reclassified to their own genus, Dendrosenecio.
| Dendrosenecio elgonensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Dendrosenecio |
| Species: | D. elgonensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dendrosenecio elgonensis | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Sources:[2] | |
Description
editDendrosenecio elgonensis can grow to 7 meters tall, with a trunk to 30 centimeters in diameter and pith 2.5 to 3 centimeters in diameter. D. elgonensis generally keeps its stem cloaked with its withered and decaying foliage (or with retained leaf-bases after fire) but eventually loses them as bark develops. "Periodic reproduction yields sparsely branched, spreading plants that rarely exceed five reproductive cycles."[3]
Leaf surfaces are elliptic or heart-shaped, 97 centimeters long and 32 centimeters wide. The lower portion of the leaves are hairless except for along the mid-vein.[3]
Flower heads are presented horizontally. 11 to 13, 24 millimeter long ray florets and 40 to 70 disc florets.[3]
Distribution
editFound on the slopes of Mount Elgon between 2750 and 4200 meters.[3]
Infraspecific name synonymy
editThe names for the giant groundsels have become somewhat confusing:
- Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox[2]
- Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) E.B.Knox[4]
- Dendrosenecio johnstonii (Oliv.) B.Nord. subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) B.Nord.
- Senecio barbatipes Hedberg
- Senecio gardneri Cotton - non C.B.Clarke—nom. illegit. (ill.)
- Senecio gardneri Cotton var. ligulatus Cotton & Blakelock
- Senecio johnstonii Oliv. subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) Mabb.
- Senecio johnstonii Oliv. var. ligulatus (Cotton & Blakelock) C.Jeffrey
- Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. elgonensis[5]
- Dendrosenecio johnstonii (Oliv.) B.Nord. subsp. elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) B.Nord.
- Senecio amblyphyllus Cotton
- Senecio elgonensis T.C.E.Fr.
- Senecio johnstonii Oliv. var. elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) Mabb.[5]
- Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) E.B.Knox[4]
References
edit- ^ Williams, E.; Crook, V. (2020). "Dendrosenecio elgonensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T63923564A174152413. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T63923564A174152413.en. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Dendrosenecio elgonensis record n° 177715". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
- ^ a b c d Aluka. "Entry for Dendrosenecio elgonensis subsp. elgonensis [family COMPOSITAE]". African Plants. Ithaka Harbors, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
- ^ "Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) E.B.Knox record n° 105256". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ^ a b "Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. elgonensis record n° 105257". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
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