Communities

Scientific Name

Senecio biserratus

Family Name

ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE)

Common Name

Groundsel

Status

Height

stems 0.2m - 1.2m (20-120cm)

Flowers

Numerous yellow flowerheads in loose terminal clusters.

Fruit

Achenes

Form

Short-lived perennial herb with erect leafy flowering stems. Leaves not stem clasping

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Widespread

Habitat Notes

Widespread and locally abundant from sea level to mountain plateaux.

Site Tolerance

Exposed; Moist; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Well-drained

General Notes

Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Achenes dark brown short and cylindrical with broad ribs separated by narrow grooves from which a double row of short hairs project. seedheads become fluffy and come away from heads easily when mature

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Short

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Surface sow or lightly cover. Seedlings may be prone to damping off so the use of capillary watering may be helpful. Some species lose viability quickly and many species are best sown when daily temperatures are around 15-20oC.

Germination Time

2-5 weeks

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

May also be grown from cuttings.