Re: Senecios/Groundsel

>>Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 13:55:18 EDT From: WHTROS@aol.com

>>...I'm confused.  Is Senecio another name for Groundsel?
To add to my confusion, this summer I purchased a Senecio - Ligularia dentata
"desdemonia." It has large roundish leaves - green on top & burgundy on
bottom.
Its supposed to have large, orange, daisy-like flowers July & August.
I take it this is nothing like the Senecio Groundsel. What does Senecio refer
to that relates to both cases? Is this a time when Latin names would clarify
things??
Thanx for any clarification you can help me with.  Barb<<

Barb, 
I think I can clarify this for you.  Then again, I may confuse you further.
Senecio is the Latin name.  It is a very large and varied genus, belonging to
the Composite (Daisy) family.   The genus Senecio is so diverse that it
includes climbers, succulents, herbs, shrubs and even some small trees.  And,
yes, some plants most folks would call weeds, like Jeanne's dreaded Senecio
vulgaris, the common name for which is Groundsel.  Groundsel is also used in
the common names of a number of valued wildflowers and garden plants of the
genus (e.g. Senecio obovatus, Round-leaved Groundsel).  Others go by the
common name Ragwort (for instance, Senecio aureus, or Golden Ragwort).
Another familiar plant in the genus is Senecio cineraria, or Dusty Miller. 

Here's where the fun begins:  some species that were previously classified as
Senecio are now listed under the genus Ligularia (for example, your plant
Ligularia dentata, commonly called Ragwort, used to be Senecio clivorum.
Senecio comes from the Latin word senex which means old (as in senile) and
refers to the hoary, gray seed appendage which is the common feature that
links these seemingly diverse plants.  I have no idea why some of the former
members of the Senecio genus were reclassified as Ligularia. Those wonderful
botanists who keep confusing us with constant name changes usually have
reasons only they themselves seem to understand.  (But, I have to admit I
really like the word Ligularia -- it really rolls off the tongue.) They have
been doing a lot of work in the composite family of late --  recently they
reclassified a number of Chrysanthemums as Leucanthemum.  Just about the time
I finally learned to spell Leucanthemum, they switched them back! 

Anyway, I expect you will be much happier with your Ligularia dentata than
Jeanne was with her Senecio vulgaris.  --Janis

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