Senecio doronicum   Chamois Ragwort

Senecio doronicum whole Senecio doronicum close

Finding a few clumps of this orange composite in a field of orchids and Viper's Bugloss, it looked at first like some kind of Arnica (Arnica montana possibly) but with the hoary leaves and without the asymmetric outer petal formation. The flowers are large and hardly resemble those of the typical Senecio (Ragwort) species we find in the British Isles. It was a butterfly attracting plant and the Knapweed Fritillary below spent a long time nectaring on the flowers.

Senecio doronicum can be found in the Italian Apennines, the Alps and the Pyrenees as well as the Picos de Europea. It will grow at heights of up to 10,000 feet.

Senecio doronicum

Senecio doronicum Chamois Ragwort with Knapweed Fritillary (Melitaea phoebe)

Field next to lane behind hotel in Espinama, Picos 17th June 2015

Previous   Next
Senecio doronicum Chamois Ragwort

LHS: Val de fain, Switzerland 6th July 2010 RHS: field next to lane behind hotel in Espinama, Picos 17th June 2015

Added on 2nd July 2015

Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict