Cleveland’s ragwort

Senecio clevelandii Greene, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 10: 87. 1883 (as clevelandi); S. clevelandii var. heterophyllus Hoover

Perennials, 30–80+ cm; taprooted (caudices suberect to erect, stout). Stems usually 1 (sometimes more, clustered), glaucous. Basal leaves (and proximal cauline, relatively thick and turgid) petiolate; blades lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 30–100+ × 10–20+ mm, bases tapering, margins entire or subentire. Cauline leaves gradually reduced (sessile and weakly clasping; lanceolate, entire). Heads 12–20+ in open, corymbiform arrays. Peduncles conspicuously bracteate, glaucous. Calyculi conspicuous. Phyllaries (13) 21, green (tips often purple), glabrous. Ray florets 8–10(–13); corolla laminae 5–7 mm. Disc florets 25–40+; corolla tubes 2–3 mm, limbs 3–4 mm. Cypselae 1–1.5 mm, glabrous; pappi 5–6 mm. 2n = 46.

Flowering mid Jun–mid Jul. Rocky, serpentine soils, open, dry, shrubby areas, dry streambeds; 300–700 m; Calif.

Packera clevelandii is known only from the North Coast Ranges and foothills of the Sierra Nevada on serpentine soils in chaparral communities. It is the only Packera with subsucculent, glaucous herbage.