Perennials, 40–100 (–250) cm (caudices ligneous, branched). Herbage glabrous or lightly floccose-tomentose proximally when young. Stems single or loosely clustered. Leaves evenly distributed (proximal often withering before flowering); petiolate or subsessile; blades lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate to sublinear, 5–15 (–20+) × (1–) 1.5–4 cm, bases tapered, margins dentate to subentire (distal leaves smaller, bractlike). Heads 30–90+ in corymbiform to subpaniculiform arrays. Calyculi of 2–6 linear to filiform bractlets (0.5–5 mm). Phyllaries ± 8 or ca. 13, 4–9 mm, tips usually green, sometimes black. Ray-florets ± 5 or ± 8; corolla laminae 5–10 mm. Cypselae glabrous or glabrate. 2n = 40.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Varieties of Senecio serra are distinguished by head size and distribution.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Senecio serra var. admirabilis, Senecio serra var. serra

Key

1	Heads 40–90+; phyllaries ± 8, 4–6 mm; ray florets ± 5, corolla laminae 5–7 mm; disc florets 10–20	Senecio serra var. serra
1	Heads (12–)30–50; phyllaries ± 13, 7–9 mm; ray florets ± 8, corolla laminae 7–10 mm; disc florets 20–40+	Senecio serra var. admirabilis