Senecio lamarckianus

Bois de chèvre
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Senecioneae
Genus: Senecio
Species: S. lamarckianus
Binomial name
Senecio lamarckianus
Bullock
Synonyms
  • Senecio appendiculatus
    (Lam.) DC ex Bojer[1]
  • Conyza appendiculata
    Lam.[2]

Senecio lamarckianus, the bois de chèvre (English: wood/antler of goat), is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family and a member of the genus Senecio. It is endemic to the island of Mauritius and is threatened by habitat loss.[3]

S. lamarckianus is named after the French philosopher, botanist and zoologist Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck.[1]

Description

S. lamarckianus is a many-branched perennial shrub that grows to be 2 metres (6.6 ft) to 3 metres (9.8 ft) tall.[1]

Leaves and stems: The stalk and branches are densely covered with white hairs. Oblong leather-like leaves[1] are silvery greenish colored,[4] 11 centimetres (4.3 in) to 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long by 3 centimetres (1.2 in) to 5.2 centimetres (2.0 in) wide and are attached to the branch with a leaf stalk[1] 1 centimetre (0.39 in) to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long, which bear on opposite sides small, well-spaced lanceolate lobules. Pointed at the tips and slender at the base; serrated, more so at the tips,[4] mostly hairless on the tops and densely hairy underneath.[1]

Flowers: Numerous flower heads which cluster into a flat top, each on its own flower stalk; center flower heads tending to open first.[1] Inflorescence is completely covered in white hairs and appears in groups of seven.[4] Clusters composed of ray florets, with 2.8 millimetres (0.11 in) long yellow rays, tube 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long. Internal florets, with yellow 3.9 millimetres (0.15 in) corolla with 1.6 millimetres (0.063 in) long lobes.[1]

Fruits: Achenes can vary between 1.2 millimetres (0.047 in) and 1.8 millimetres (0.071 in) in length, are smooth and bear a pappus of 2.7 millimetres (0.11 in) to 3 millimetres (0.12 in) long with white hairs.[4]

Distribution

Endiemic to Mauritius, now very rare, found in dry mountainous regions around the summit peaks of the island. Localities: Mondrain, Pieter Both Mountain, Gubbies, Piton du Fouge Ridge Forest,[3] crests above Port Louis,[1] most of them in Piton du Fouge. There is a chance there are more individuals in more remote areas.[3]

Possible synonyms

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Thomas Brendler (2004). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Indian Ocean Islands. CRC Press. ISBN 3-88763-094-7.
  2. "Synonyms of Senecio lamarckianus". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  3. 1 2 3 Page, W. & Florens, D. (2000). "Senecio lamarckianus – Critically Endangered". 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Retrieved 2008-03-09. External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Senecio lamarckianus (Bois de Chèvre)". Endemics In Mondrain. floralis. Retrieved 2008-03-09. External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. "Entry for Senecio lyratus Forssk. [family COMPOSITAE]". African Plants. Ithaka Harbors, Inc. Retrieved 2008-03-09.


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