Senecio lamarckianus

Senecio lamarckianus, the bois de chèvre (English: wood/antler of goat), is a species of flowering plant in the aster family and a member of the genus Senecio. It is endemic to the island of Mauritius and is threatened by habitat loss.[1]

Bois de chèvre

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Senecio
Species:
S. lamarckianus
Binomial name
Senecio lamarckianus
Bullock
Synonyms[2]
  • Conyza appendiculata Lam.
  • Senecio appendiculatus (Lam.) DC.
  • Synarthrum appendiculatum (Lam.) Cass.

S. lamarckianus is named after the French philosopher, botanist and zoologist Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck.[3]

Description

S. lamarckianus is a many-branched perennial shrub that grows to be 2 m (6.6 ft) to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall.[3]

Leaves and stems: The stalk and branches are densely covered with white hairs. Oblong leather-like leaves[3] are silvery greenish colored,[4] 11 cm (4.3 in) to 13 cm (5.1 in) long by 3 cm (1.2 in) to 5.2 cm (2.0 in) wide and are attached to the branch with a leaf stalk[3] 1 cm (0.39 in) to 2 cm (0.79 in) long, which bear on opposite sides small, well-spaced lanceolate lobules. Pointed at the tips and slender at the base; serrated, more so at the tips,[4] mostly hairless on the tops and densely hairy underneath.[3]

Flowers: Numerous flower heads which cluster into a flat top, each on its own flower stalk; center flower heads tending to open first.[3] Inflorescence is completely covered in white hairs and appears in groups of seven.[4] Clusters composed of ray florets, with 2.8 mm (0.11 in) long yellow rays, tube 2 mm (0.079 in) long. Internal florets, with yellow 3.9 mm (0.15 in) corolla with 1.6 mm (0.063 in) long lobes.[3]

Fruits: Achenes can vary between 1.2 mm (0.047 in) and 1.8 mm (0.071 in) in length, are smooth and bear a pappus of 2.7 mm (0.11 in) to 3 mm (0.12 in) long with white hairs.[4]

Distribution

Endemic to Mauritius, now very rare, it is found in dry mountainous regions around the summit peaks of the island. Localities: Mondrain, Pieter Both Mountain, Gubbies, Piton du Fouge Ridge Forest,[1] crests above Port Louis,[3] most of them in Piton du Fouge. There is a chance there are more individuals in more remote areas.[1]

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References
  1. Page, W. & Florens, D. (2000). "Senecio lamarckianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2000: e.T33728A9806198. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T33728A9806198.en. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  2. "Senecio lamarckianus Bullock". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  3. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim; Thomas Brendler (2004). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Indian Ocean Islands. CRC Press. ISBN 978-3-88763-094-2.
  4. "Senecio lamarckianus (Bois de Chèvre)". Endemics In Mondrain. floralis. Retrieved 2008-03-09. External link in |publisher= (help)
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