Senecio integerrimus var. major
Lambs-tongue ragwort, Lambs-Tongue Ragwort
Photo: parent species Senecio integerrimus · (c) John Powers, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Senecio integerrimus var. major (Lambs-tongue ragwort) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by densely woolly stems, green-tipped linear phyllaries, small rays.
Lambs-tongue ragwort is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and White and Inyo Mountains in openings of conifer forest and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 100 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces bright yellow ray flowers 5 to 8 millimeters long in heads with 5 to 12 flowerheads. Growing with a single stem that is densely cobwebby and softly hairy, it reaches heights that allow its distinctive leaves to stand out. Its basal and lower stem leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, with bases that taper smoothly and create an elegant profile. The plant's green-tipped linear phyllaries add a subtle architectural detail to its delicate flowering structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; key features are densely woolly stems, green-tipped linear phyllaries, small rays
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in conifer forest and sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 100-3600 m
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Senecio integerrimus var. major blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Packera: Senecio has larger leaves (over 2.5 inches) and often black-tipped bracts; Packera has tiny leaves (under 1.5 inches) with green or reddish tips.; vs Sonchus: Senecio has yellow daisy flowers with a neat single row of bracts; Sonchus has dandelion-like flowers and milky sap when broken.; vs Dudleya: Senecio is in the sunflower family with daisy flowers; Dudleya is a succulent with thick fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers.; vs Ericameria: Senecio has one main row of equal bracts around flower heads; Ericameria has 2-4 overlapping rows of unequal bracts.; vs Taraxacum: Senecio has branching stems with multiple flower heads; Taraxacum has leafless hollow stems with single dandelion-like heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Senecio integerrimus var. major native to California?
Yes. Senecio integerrimus var. major is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Senecio integerrimus var. major bloom?
Senecio integerrimus var. major blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Senecio integerrimus var. major belong to?
Senecio integerrimus var. major is in the Asteraceae family, genus Senecio.
What habitat does Senecio integerrimus var. major grow in?
Senecio integerrimus var. major grows in Openings in conifer forest and sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.