| Botanical Name |
Senecio flaccidus |
| Common Name |
Threadleaf groundsel, Butterweed |
| Family |
Asteraceae - Aster |
| Description |
This native perennial is a bushy, leafy plant covered with matted white hairs. These hairs give the plant a soft, silvery appearance. The leaves are very narrow, alternate and 1” –-5” long. It grows throughout New Mexico in dry soils. |
| Mature Size |
1' - 3' tall |
| Bloom |
In summer and into fall this plant has rather large, daisy-like flowers with yellow ray flowers and darker yellow disc flowers. The petals are lined up side by side, not overlapping. The pappus is white. |
| Interesting Facts |
Senecio comes from Latin senex, meaning old man. This refers to the hoary pappus of these plants. All parts of Senecio flaccidus are poisonous to livestock, especially the tender, new growth. But it is not often consumed in quantity. |
| Traditional and Medicinal Uses |
Native Americans of the Southwest rubbed it over aching bones. Arrows have been made from Threadleaf groundsel. Navajos used its flower heads to clean cactus fruits of their spines. |
Janice Tucker Photos
