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 Edit this 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

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A 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 (14 to 38 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 (38 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

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Senecio 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]

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References

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  1. ^ "Threatened Species Programme | SANBI Red List of South African Plants". redlist.sanbi.org. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b "Senecio barbertonicus - Succulent Bush Senecio". San Marcos Growers Web Site. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  6. ^ "Senecio barbertonicus Klatt". Swaziland's Flora Database. South African National Botanical Institute (PRECIS database) and the Swaziland National Herbarium. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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

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