Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis
Encyclopedia
Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis is one of the East Africa
n giant groundsel, this one endemic to the Cherangani Hills
. Once it was a genus of Senecio
but has recently been reclassified as a Dendrosenecio
.
with diameters of 2 centimeters. Leaf-rosettes of 40–70 leaves. Infrequent reproduction makes these giant plants sparsely branched and columnar. They rarely exceed three reproductive cycles. Leaves can be up to 94 centimeters long and 25 centimeters wide. Inflorescence can be 100 centimeters tall and 70 centimeters in diameter. 10 to 13 ray florets 10–13 and 25 to 50 disc florets.
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East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
n giant groundsel, this one endemic to the Cherangani Hills
Cherangani Hills
Cherangani Hills, gently rolling slopes in the western highlands of Kenya, are one of Kenya's five main forests. The highlands, the large central plateau, is divided by the Mau Escarpment rising from the border with Tanzania up to the Cherangani Hills, fencing the plateau that rises to the slopes...
. Once it was a genus of Senecio
Senecio
Senecio is a genus of the daisy family that includes ragworts and groundsels. The flower heads are normally rayed, completely yellow, and the heads are borne in branched clusters...
but has recently been reclassified as a Dendrosenecio
Dendrosenecio
Dendrosenecio is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Asteraceae. It is a segregate of Senecio, in which it formed the subgenus Dendrosenecio...
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Description
Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis can grow to 6 meters tall, with trunks up to 25 centimeters in diameter and pithPith
Pith, or medulla, is a tissue in the stems of vascular plants. Pith is composed of soft, spongy parenchyma cells, which store and transport nutrients throughout the plant. In eudicots, pith is located in the center of the stem. In monocots, it extends also into flowering stems and roots...
with diameters of 2 centimeters. Leaf-rosettes of 40–70 leaves. Infrequent reproduction makes these giant plants sparsely branched and columnar. They rarely exceed three reproductive cycles. Leaves can be up to 94 centimeters long and 25 centimeters wide. Inflorescence can be 100 centimeters tall and 70 centimeters in diameter. 10 to 13 ray florets 10–13 and 25 to 50 disc florets.
Distribution
D. cheranganiensis grows between 2600–3400 meters on the slopes of the Cherangani HillsCherangani Hills
Cherangani Hills, gently rolling slopes in the western highlands of Kenya, are one of Kenya's five main forests. The highlands, the large central plateau, is divided by the Mau Escarpment rising from the border with Tanzania up to the Cherangani Hills, fencing the plateau that rises to the slopes...
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Infraspecific name synonymy
The names for the giant groundsels have become somewhat confusing:- Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) E.B.Knox
- Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) E.B.Knox subsp. cheranganiensis
- Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) E.B.Knox subsp. cheranganiensis (2005).
- Dendrosenecio johnstonii (Oliv.) B.Nord. subsp. cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) B.Nord.
- Senecio cheranganiensis Cotton & Blakelock
- Senecio johnstonii Oliv. subsp. cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) Mabb.
- Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) E.B.Knox subsp. dalei
- Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) E.B.Knox subsp. dalei
- Dendrosenecio johnstonii (Oliv.) B.Nord. subsp. dalei (Cotton & Blakelock) B.Nord.
- Senecio dalei Cotton & Blakelock
- Senecio johnstonii Oliv. subsp. dalei (Cotton & Blakelock) Mabb.
- Dendrosenecio cheranganiensis (Cotton & Blakelock) E.B.Knox subsp. cheranganiensis