Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Magnoliopsida (dicots)
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Scientific name: Senecio skirrhodon
Common Names: Gravel groundsel
Gravel groundsel is a common annual or short-lived perennial weed found usually in waste place and along railway lines. It is originally from Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa. In New Zealand it endemic to areas in both the North and South Islands. It is common in some coastal sites in Wellington and Taranaki.
The flowers appear in December to January and have eleven to sixteen bright yellow petals and are the heads are about 3cm in diameter. The leaves are lance or egg-shaped and fleshy, up to 6cm long and about 1 cm wide. The margins can be entire, lobed or have a few teeth.
The Latin name Senecio means old man from the fluffy white seed heads.
Various leaf forms.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
