Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, Part Part 3, page 547, (2005) Author: H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind
Names
Senecio purtschelleri Engl. [family COMPOSITAE], in Abh. Preuss. Akad. Wiss. 1891, 2: 443 (1892); A.V.P.: 237, 360 (1957); C. Jeffrey in K.B. 41: 901 (1986); U.K.W.F. ed. 2: 222 (1994). Type: Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, Meyer 213 & 262 (B†, SYN.), neotype: Kilimanjaro, Hedberg 1314 (UPS, neo., EA!, K!, isoneo., chosen by Hedberg)
Senecio platzii Muschl. [family COMPOSITAE], in E.J. 43: 67 (1909). Type: Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, Meyer 51 (B†, SYN.) & Meru, Uhlig 604 (B†, EA!, SYN.)
Information
Perennial herb 7–60(?–90?) cm high, rhizomatous; stems erect, branched, ± glandular-pubescent, sometimes also arachnoid-glabrescent, leafy. Leaves sessile, oblong to oblanceolate, 2–13.5 cm long, 0.4–2.7 cm wide, tapered to an auriculate or subauriculate somewhat expanded base, margins sinuate-crenate or obscurely to coarsely sinuate-dentate or bidentate with rounded apiculate teeth, apex obtuse to rounded, minutely apiculate, dark green, sticky, glandular-pubescent and sometimes also thinly arachnoid-glabrescent above, glandular-pubescent beneath especially on midrib and veins and sometimes also thinly arachnoid, marcescent when old. Capitula radiate, subradiate with irregularly enlarged outer disc florets, or discoid, erect, 2–12 in usually congested terminal cymes; stalks of the individual capitula glandular, rarely also slightly arachnoid; involucre cylindrical, 8–11.5 mm long, 4–5 mm in diameter; bracts of calyculus 4–8, lax, lanceolate, 3–7 mm long, dark-tipped, ± glandular, at least on margins; phyllaries 10–14, 7–11 mm long, thinly finely glandular-pubescent and sometimes also very thinly arachnoid. Ray florets 5–7 or 0, variable within populations, when present yellow, tube 3–4 mm long, sparsely hairy, rays 4–6 x 1.5–2.2 mm; disc florets yellow, corolla 5–6.7 mm long, tube expanded above the middle, glabrous, lobes 0.5–0.8 mm long. Achenes 2.5–3.5 mm long, ribbed, glabrous or almost so; pappus 5.5–6.5 mm long, white.
Distribution
KENYA Mt Kenya, above head of Nithi Valley, Aug. 1944, Le Pelley in Bally 3445! & head of Sirimon Valley, Nov. 1970, Mabberley 417! & N slope near Kami Hut, June 1986, Linder 3672!TANZANIA Kilimanjaro, saddle, June 1948, Hedberg 1193! & Mawenzi hut, Mar. 1956, Trump s.n.!: Mt Meru, summit, Mar. 1946, Fuggles Couchman in AH 9817!