Common name: Purple Groundsel
Senecio elegans L. APNI* 
Description: Erect or diffuse annual herb 30–100 cm high, stems ± woody, ribbed, sparsely hairy.
Leaves variable in shape, lower leaves ± oblanceolate to obovate, usually 5–10 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide, margins toothed or variously pinnatifid with lobes ± cuneate, base ± stem-clasping, margins stiffly toothed, surfaces sparsely scabrous.
Inflorescence coymbose, corymb branches 2–15 cm long; heads campanulate, 10–15 mm diam.; involucral bracts 12–15, 5–10 mm long; bracteoles 10–20. Ray florets bright pink to purple; ligules 15–20 mm long.
Achenes c. 2 mm long, appressed-pubescent; pappus 6–8 mm long, not persistent.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Recorded on coastal dunes of southern Australia. Native of southern Africa.
NSW subdivisions: *LHI
Other Australian states: *Vic. *Tas. *S.A. *W.A.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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