Senecio spathulatus var. latifructus
I.Thomps.Sprawling to prostrate rhizomatous perennial to 50 cm high. Leaves sessile, shortly auriculate at base, obovate to spathulate, 1–5 cm long, 6–15(–25) mm wide, rather fleshy; margins dentate, serrate or denticulate. Inflorescence of 1–5 capitula; capitula radiate; involucre broadly campanulate, 7–11 mm long; bracts c. 13, rarely 8–10, fused near base, fleshy, with broad membranous margins; bracteoles present. Ray florets c. 13, yellow, ligules 10–25 mm long; disc florets c. 40–70, yellow. Cypselas cylindric, often curved 4–7 mm long, pale brown or straw coloured, ribbed, glabrous, or rarely shortly pubescent between ribs; pappus of slender hairs 5–7 mm long, persistent. Flowers mostly Nov.–Mar.
GipP, EGL. Also NSW. Scattered on sandy coasts, on dunes where it forms low, broad clumps, on and east of Wilsons Promontory, but rather uncommon, possibly displaced to an extent by exotic Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria) which has been widely planted as a sand-binder.
Specimens with hairy cypselas have been referred to Senecio anacampserotis DC., but mixed populations of plants varying only in cypsela indumentum (i.e. hairy or glabrous) are found along the eastern coasts of Victoria. As with many other species of Senecio that have variable states of cypsela hairiness, S. spathulatus is here regarded as encompassing both fruit types.
Spinning
