Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don

Himalaya (Kumaun to NEFA), Assam, N. Burma, India, Ceylon, Thailand, S. China, Philippines, Japan.

2100-2800 m

Flowering from August to April of next year.

Senecio scandens var. scandens is close relative of Senecio scandens var. incisus, but differs from the latter in subentire to dentate (vs. pinnatifid) leaves with unlobed and without small lateral lobes at base (vs. with a large terminal lobe and several lateral lobes at base).

Senecio scandens is occurring in Xizang, Shaanxi, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Taiwan of China, Philippines, Japan, Indo-China, Thailand, Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar.

Phylogenetic analyses of the tribe Senecioneae based on DNA sequence data of the plastid genome (the trnT-L intergenic spacer, the trnL intron, and two parts of the trnK intron, flanking both sides of the matK gene) and nuclear genome (ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 gene and spacers) show that Pericallis groups together with Cineraria, Dendrosenecio, Senecio lineatus, and Senecio scandens, and sect. Jacobaea is placed much more basal in the Senecioninae (Pelser et al., 2002).

Perennial scandent herbs. Stems elongate, much branched, 2-5 m long, more or less pubescent while young, becoming glabrous. Petiole 1.2-2 cm long, not winged. Cauline leaves triangular, usually 8-11 cm long, 3.5-6 cm wide, apex acuminate, base truncate to hastate, margins subentire to dentate, pubescent on both surfaces. Heads many, in paniculate corymbs, terminal and lateral, branches much spreading, densely pubescent. Heads 13-14 mm across, peduncle 5-15 mm long. Involucre cylindric, 5-6 mm long, 5 mm wide, tubular, bracts 8, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, acute. Ray florets, corolla yellow, ca. 8.5-9 mm long, 2 mm wide. Disc florets: corolla 6-6.5 mm long, lobes 5, 1 mm long. Achenes cylindric, 3.2-4 mm long, 0.8 mm wide, glabrous. Pappus 5-6 mm long, white.

The basic chromosomal number of Senecio scandens is 2n = 20 (Peng et al., 1977, 1978; Mathew and Mathew, 1988).

Growing in mountains slopes, shrubs, and stream banks; 50-3200 m.