Dendrosenecio elgonensis explained

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."^[1]

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.^[1]

Flower heads are presented horizontally. 11 to 13, 24 millimeter long ray florets and 40 to 70 disc florets.^[1]

Distribution

Found on the slopes of Mount Elgon between 2750 and 4200 meters.^[1]

Infraspecific name synonymy

The names for the giant groundsels have become somewhat confusing:

• Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox
  • Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) E.B.Knox^[2]
    • 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^[3]
    • 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.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Entry for Dendrosenecio elgonensis subsp. elgonensis [family COMPOSITAE] ]. https://archive.today/20130801230352/http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.AP.FLORA.FTEA006293 . dead . 2013-08-01 . 2008-05-15 . Aluka . Aluka . African Plants . Ithaka Harbors, Inc .
2. Web site: Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. barbatipes (Hedberg) E.B.Knox record n° 105256 . https://archive.today/20130115234242/http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=105256 . dead . 2013-01-15 . 2008-05-13 . African Plants Database . South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica .
3. Web site: Dendrosenecio elgonensis (T.C.E.Fr.) E.B.Knox subsp. elgonensis record n° 105257 . https://archive.today/20130115205131/http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/bd/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=105257 . dead . 2013-01-15 . 2008-05-13 . African Plants Database . South African National Biodiversity Institute, the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève and Tela Botanica .