Senecio pinnatifolius Variable Groundsel
Unlike most of the plants I found in Western Australia this one was immediately recognisable as a Senecio. So I assumed that it must be an alien brought in from Europe or South Africa. I was wrong. Senecio pinnatifolius (once Senecio lautus) is an Australian native found in various places on the continent not just in Western Australia. It is also known as Coastal Groundsel because that is where it is most often found found but the "Variable" title applies to the leaves. The leaves are fleshy, almost succulent, but can be linear or have a number of pinnate lobes -up to eight.
In Western Australia Senecio pinnatifolius is found near the coast from north of Kalbarri to beyond Esperance and dotted here and there inland too particularly in the hinterland of the regions around Perth.
|
| Senecio pinnatifolius Variable Groundsel |
Rottnest Island, nr Perth, Western Australia 20th September 2007
Added on 5th March 2012