Senecio ovatus

Fuchs cal ragwort ( Senecio ovatus )

Called the Fuchsian ragwort ( Senecio ovatus ), also fox - ragwort or Kahles Grove ragwort, a plant in the sunflower family is (Asteraceae). It is widespread in Europe.

Description

When Fuchsian Ragwort is a perennial herbaceous plant that usually reaches stature heights of 60 to 180 cm. Are formed underground runners. The plants are usually quite slim and upright branches only in the region of the inflorescence. The stem can be colored depending on the subspecies green or reddish.

The stalked leaves of Fuchsian ragwort are undivided, oblong lanceolate and about five times as long as wide; its edge is serrated. In the middle and upper leaves of the two sides of the sheet substrate often run as narrow leaf petiole down. The leaves are on both sides bald or nearly bald.

The flowering period extends depending on the subspecies from early July to September (see below systematics). The bloom conditions included depending on the subspecies usually three or five ( up to eight ) yellow, female ray florets with a linealischen tongue and depending on the subspecies 3-16 yellow, hermaphrodite florets. There are three to five depending on the subspecies Außenhüllblätter and eight to nine bracts ( Involucralblätter ) available.

The achenes have a pappus.

Ecology

The Fuchsian Ragwort is a Hemikryptophyt and a stem plant. The Vegetative reproduction occurs by short underground runners.

Ecologically flowers are "basket flowers". The cups in the center show a high UV reflection and thus cancel clearly from the background, thus appear in two colors for the pollinators. Flower visitors are different insects.

The totality of the Pappusstrahlen a Körbchens recalls at maturity at an old man head, which was crucial for the naming of the plant. serve the Pappusstrahlen in the spread of achene as Schirmchenflieger and water Hafter. Fruit ripening from September.

Toxicity

All species of the genus Senecio are toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids by the liver and cancer have a detrimental effect to a large extent triggering. For the Fuchsian ragwort also a mutagenic effect was detected. The poisoning symptoms usually appear very late, which means after weeks or months. Poisoning can also occur via honey or cow's milk. Poisoned honey tastes bitter and usually lasts from further consumption from. The cattle do not avoid Senecio species in the pasture, but in the hay where the poison remains. High ragwort Shares may also cause very severe damage in cattle. Very high doses can also lead to an immediate, deadly to partial poisoning, especially in small mammals. Particularly at risk are horses and cattle.

Although the alkaloids are usually very toxic to insects, there are some insect species that spend their entire life cycle on Senecium species. These include the moth species Ragwort or Blutbär ( Tyria jacobaeae ) Schönbär ( Callimorpha dominula ) and brown bear ( Arctia caja ) from the family of tiger moths ( Arctiinae ). Your caterpillars take on the toxins without harm and even save it. This gives you a bitter taste and are thus protected from predators.

Dissemination

The Fuchsian ragwort is found in nutrient-rich, shady and moist forests, especially mixed forests. It is widespread in European low mountain ranges, the Alps and also in the lowlands. In Austria, very common in all federal states in Germany north to the Central Upland Range. The distribution in Switzerland is similar far-reaching as in Austria.

System

The first release under the name ( basionym ) Jacobaea ovata was in 1801 by Philipp Gottfried gardener, Bernhard Meyer and John Scherbius in Economic- Technical flora of the Wetterau, volume 3, page 212 The recombination to Senecio ovatus ( P.Gaertner, Meyer & Scherb. ) Willd. Karl Ludwig Willdenow published in 1803 in Species Plantarum, 4th Edition, Volume 3 (3 ), pp. 2004. Additional synonyms for Senecio ovatus ( G.Gaertn. , B.Mey. & Scherb. ) Willd. are: . Senecio fuchsii CCGmel, Senecio nemorensis subsp. fuchsii ( CCGmel. ) Ces .. The specific epithet refers to the ovatus egg-shaped leaves.

From the way Senecio ovatus there are about three subspecies:

• Ordinary Fox ragwort ( Senecio ovatus ( G.Gaertn, B.Mey & body) Willd ovatus subsp. .. .. ): The nominate form 5 to 15 cm long streamers. The green or reddish stems are bare except scattered pubescent, but not hairy fluffy. The Blütenstandsschäfte are 10 to 25 mm long. Three to four and eight to nine Außenhüllblätter bracts present. There are 8 to 14 florets and usually five (four to eight) ray florets present. The flowering period extends from late July to September.
• Alps Fox ragwort ( Senecio ovatus subsp alpestris ( Gaudin ) Herborg, Syn. Senecio alpestris Gaudin ): The foothills are 3 to 10 cm long. The stem is hairy fluffy in the lower and middle part at least below the leaf axil. Blütenstandsschäfte the thinner and 5 to 15 mm long. There are seven to eight bracts present. There are three to eight florets and usually only three (two to four) ray florets present. The flowering period extends from early July to August.
• Senecio ovatus subsp. stabianus ( Lacaita ) Greuter, syn. Senecio stabianus Lacaita, Senecio nemorensis subsp. stabianus ( Lacaita ) Pignatti: It occurs only in Italy and perhaps Albania.

Folk medicine

The Fuchsian Ragwort, also named as " wound herb" in the Middle Ages, was formerly used as a remedy for excessive menstrual bleeding or mucosal bleeding. That's it but like all other ragwort species containing hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and there is also a likelihood of confusion with similar ragwort species is advised not to use these days.