Communities

Scientific Name

Senecio lautus

Family Name

ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE)

Common Name

Variable Groundsel

Status

Height

Flowers

Yellow, in loose groups at ends of stems.

Fruit

Achenes

Form

Erect herb, almost hairless, branching from base.

Municipalities

Communities

Coastal Vegetation; Grassy Vegetation; Montane Vegetation

Habitat Notes

Occasional in dry grassland and heath on eastern mountains. Widespread and frequent on sea coasts and mountains at altitudes of c 700-1000m.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Moist

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Sandy; 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 long, ribbed. seedheads become fluffy and come away from heads easily when mature. colle ct into paper bags and allow to dry. rub on fine wire screens or break up by hand to extract seed. sieve to clean

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.