Senecio elegans

While on a recent visit to the Bristol University Botanical Gardens I came across these in the greenhouse. My closest guess was that they had to be from the family Asteraceae also known as the Aster Family. I'm not sure if I'm getting better at identifying plants or if members of this family are so obvious. Luckily they had a little sign which proved me correct once I'd gotten back and looked Senecio elegans up.

Senecio elegans at the Bristol University Botanical Gardens

Senecio elegans is native to southern Africa. They also exist in purple, red, and pink. Unfortunately the only ones I saw were all yellow. However, I am sure I have probably come across some of the other colours. I will keep my eyes open so I can get some photos and do a post showing them all for comparative purposes.

Senecio elegans at the Bristol University Botanical Gardens

Senecio elegans at the Bristol University Botanical Gardens

Additional Information:

Scientific Name: Senecio elegans

Common names: wild cineraria, (English); name (French); name (German); name (Spanish);

Taxonomic hierarchy: 

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom: Viridaeplantae – Green plants

Infrakingdom: Streptophyta – Land plants

Division: Tracheophyta – Vascular plants

Subdivision: Spermatophytina – Spermatophytes (seed plants)

Infradivision: Angiospermae – Angiosperms (flowering plants)

Class: Magnoliopsida –

Superorder: Asteranae –

Order: Asterales –

Family: Asteraceae –

Genus: Senecio – 

Species: Senecio elegans –

Notes: 

• I am using the taxonomical classification system used by ITIS (Intergrated Taxonomic Information System). I have decided to use this system in order to avoid confusion as well as because it offers a comprehensive hierarchy from kingdom right through to subspecies whereas other sources only go as far as order or  provide the names of some of the higher taxonomical ranks but only indicate "unclassified" rather than providing the rank.
• When and where possible I will endeavour to include alternatives classifications although  I may limit this to occasions where an opportunity arises to discuss the reason for the different classifications.
• Taxonomical data used in this post was retrieved [June 15 2014], from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database, http://www.itis.gov.

References:


On-line sources:

http://www.herbiguide.com.au/Descriptions/hg_Hollyleaved_Senecio.htm

http://www.exotic-plants.de/seeds/succulents/Senecio-elegans.php

• Royal Horticultural Society: Entry for Sencio elegans L.
• Official Website of the: Bristol University Botanical Gardens
• Missouri Botanical gardens: Entry for Sencio elegans L.
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database: Entry for  Sencio elegans L.
• Flora Database the Western Australian Flora: Entry for Sencio elegans L.
• PlantZAfrica.com: Entry for Sencio elegans L.
• Seedaholic: Entry for Sencio elegans L.
• Wikipedia: Entry for Asterids
• Wikipedia: Entry for Asterales
• Wikipedia: Entry for Asteraceae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Senecioneae
• Wikipedia: Entry for Senecio
• Wikipedia: Entry for Scenecio elegans

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