Senecio nemorensis
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Senecio
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 2 m
- Fertility
- Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
Although no mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus that contains a number of plants with a cumulative poisonous effect on the liver[3]. Some caution is advised.
Edible uses
Young stems - pickled[1]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
- Plant part
- Stem
Environment
- Range
- Europe to W. Asia.
- Habitat
- Damp places, 800 - 1800 metres in Turkey[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Make sure the compost does not dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer if they have grown sufficiently. Otherwise, grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out the following year after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[2]. Root cuttings in early spring[2].
Cultivation
Succeeds in a sunny position in most well-drained moderately fertile soils[2]. The sub-species S. nemorensis fuchsii. (Gmel.)Celak. is the form used for food in Asia[1].
References
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394
Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00