Friday, April 13, 2007

Groundsel, ( Senecio franciscanus)

The Senecio Franciscanus is a protected plant whose only suitable habitat over the whole of America is in Northern Arizona. 5000 individual Grounsels are found in alpine tundra areas of southwestern spruce-fir forests on talus slopes between elevations of 10,991 and 12,303 feet. Because the Groundsel is adapated to such a small area, they are an easily threatened species.

The San Francisco Peaks is a volcano that is located North of Flagstaff, Arizona. It is the highest point in the southwestern United States. (The Peaks can be seen from the Grand Canyon.) This is the only alpine zone in Arizona.

Senecio franciscanus is dwarf perennial plant. It is found low to the ground due to its height only reaching 1.25 to 4 inches. The stems of the Groundsel develop a group of one to six flowers that each contain 8 to 13 yellow ray flowers. Grounsels reproduce through vegetation with the aid of Rhizomes most often, and seeding.


Damage to the Groundsel occurs through human and natural interactions with their habitat. Human damage will take place whenever humans walk through the alpine slops off trail. Natural damage in the form of Avalanches in the mountains destroy these plants.

These plants are currently being protected and will continue to be into the future as a specific rather than generalized plant.

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