Senecio madagascariensis
Poir.Erect, ± glabrous perennial to 0.6 m high. Leaves sessile, becoming auriculate upwards, undivided, narrow-elliptic to linear or rarely with 1–3 coarse teeth on each side, mostly 3–10 cm long, to 18 mm wide; margins entire, denticulate or callus-denticulate, stem-clasping and often auriculate in upper leaves. Inflorescences of 2–20 capitula; capitula radiate; involucre 4.0–6.0 mm long, 3–5 mm diam.; involucral bracts c. 20, apex often brown or black; stereome often suffused with purple below apex; bracteoles present. Ray florets c. 13, yellow, ligules 5–10 mm long; disc florets 80–150, yellow. Cypselas cylindric, 1.5–2.2 mm long, with flattened ribs, papillose hairs in bands; pappus of slender hairs 3–5 mm long, deciduous. Flowers most of year.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, EGL, EGU, HSF. Also naturalised Qld, NSW, ACT. Naturalised in Victoria around Melbourne and in East Gippsland, usually in disturbed sites such as roadsides and cleared land.
The Australian populations of this species are genetically and morphologically most similar to South African populations (Scott et al. 1998; Radford et al. 2000). In South Africa Senecio madagascariensis is part of a complex of species that are poorly resolved morphologically. Consequently, identification of Australian populations as S. madagascariensis remains tentative until taxonomic revision of the complex throughout its distribution is undertaken.
Senecio madagascariensis is considered as being a highly invasive species (White, 2022). In Victoria, Senecio madagascariensis is a weed of disturbed sites and waste areas, cleared land, and roadsides.
Poisonous to some stock and poultry (McKenzie 2012).
