Dendrosenecio elgonensis

Dendrosenecio elgonensis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Dendrosenecio
Species:	D. elgonensis
Binomial name
Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox
Synonyms
Sources: [2]

Dendrosenecio elgonensis is one of the giant groundsel of East Africa; this one is endemic to Mount Elgon. They used to be considered part of the genus Senecio but recently have been reclassified to their own genus, Dendrosenecio .

Description

Dendrosenecio elgonensis can grow to 7 meters tall, with a trunk to 30 centimeters in diameter and pith 2.5 to 3 centimeters in diameter. D. elgonensis generally keeps its stem cloaked with its withered and decaying foliage (or with retained leaf-bases after fire) but eventually loses them as bark develops. "Periodic reproduction yields sparsely branched, spreading plants that rarely exceed five reproductive cycles." ^[3]

Leaf surfaces are elliptic or heart-shaped, 97 centimeters long and 32 centimeters wide. The lower portion of the leaves are hairless except for along the mid-vein. ^[3]

Flower heads are presented horizontally. 11 to 13, 24 millimeter long ray florets and 40 to 70 disc florets. ^[3]

Distribution

Found on the slopes of Mount Elgon between 2750 and 4200 meters. ^[3]

Infraspecific name synonymy

The names for the giant groundsels have become somewhat confusing:

• Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox ^[2]
  • Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) E.B.Knox ^[4]
    • Dendrosenecio johnstonii (Oliv.) B.Nord. subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) B.Nord.
    • Senecio barbatipes Hedberg
    • Senecio gardneri Cotton - non C.B.Clarke— nom. illegit. (ill.)
    • Senecio gardneri Cotton var. ligulatus Cotton & Blakelock
    • Senecio johnstonii Oliv. subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) Mabb.
    • Senecio johnstonii Oliv. var. ligulatus (Cotton & Blakelock) C.Jeffrey
  • Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. elgonensis ^[5]
    • Dendrosenecio johnstonii (Oliv.) B.Nord. subsp. elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) B.Nord.
    • Senecio amblyphyllus Cotton
    • Senecio elgonensis T.C.E.Fr.
    • Senecio johnstonii Oliv. var. elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) Mabb. ^[5]

References

1. Williams, E.; Crook, V. (2020). "Dendrosenecio elgonensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020 e.T63923564A174152413. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T63923564A174152413.en . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
2. "Dendrosenecio elgonensis record n° 177715". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
3. Aluka. "Entry for Dendrosenecio elgonensis subsp. elgonensis[family COMPOSITAE]". African Plants. Ithaka Harbors, Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
4. "Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) E.B.Knox record n° 105256". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
5. "Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. elgonensis record n° 105257". African Plants Database. South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2008-05-13.