*Senecio madagascariensis

Family Asteraceae

Fireweed

Short lived perennial herb to 60 cm high. Taproot shallow, branching with numerous fibrous roots within 20 cm of soil surface. Longevity 1 - 2 years.

Flowers: Yellow, June – October.

Fruit: Achene 2 mm long, with pappus of fine silky white feathery hairs, 6 mm long. Mature June – November.

Seed: 100 – 150 seeds per inflorescence and a total of 25,000–30,000 seeds per plant. Seeds mainly wind dispersed over short distances. Soil stored seedbank. Seedlings commonly noted in woodland.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Native of Southern Africa.
• Common weed of grasslands and roadsides in full sun to light shade.
• Common in grassland at the Australian Botanic Garden.
• Reported host to Magpie Moth Nyctemera amica.
• Killed by fire.
• Recruits abundantly in open areas in burnt and unburt sites after rain.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.