Jump to content

Dendrosenecio elgonensis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dendrosenecio elgonensis
Scientific classification Edit this 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]

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.

Description

[edit]

Dendrosenecio 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

[edit]

Found on the slopes of Mount Elgon between 2750 and 4200 meters.[3]

The 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]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.