''Senecio lamarckianus'', the bois de chèvre ( en, wood/antler of goat), is a species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the aster family and a member of the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

''Senecio''. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the island of

Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...

and is

threatened Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of ''critical depensat ...

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

. ''S. lamarckianus'' is named after the French philosopher,

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

and

zoologist Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...

Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck.

Description

''S. lamarckianus'' is a many-branched

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

shrub that grows to be to tall. Leaves and stems: The stalk and branches are densely covered with white hairs. Oblong leather-like leaves are silvery greenish colored, to long by to wide and are attached to the branch with a leaf stalk to long, which bear on opposite sides small, well-spaced lanceolate lobules. Pointed at the tips and slender at the base; serrated, more so at the tips, mostly hairless on the tops and densely hairy underneath. Flowers: Numerous flower heads which cluster into a flat top, each on its own flower stalk; center flower heads tending to open first. Inflorescence is completely covered in white hairs and appears in groups of seven. Clusters composed of ray florets, with long yellow rays, tube long. Internal florets, with yellow corolla with long lobes. Fruits: Achenes can vary between and in length, are smooth and bear a pappus of to long with white hairs.

Distribution

Endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Mauritius, now very rare, it is found in dry mountainous regions around the summit peaks of the island. Localities: Mondrain, Pieter Both Mountain, Gubbies, Piton du Fouge Ridge Forest, crests above

Port Louis Port Louis (french: Port-Louis; mfe, label= Mauritian Creole, Polwi or , ) is the capital city of Mauritius. It is mainly located in the Port Louis District, with a small western part in the Black River District. Port Louis is the country's ec ...

, most of them in Piton du Fouge. There is a chance there are more individuals in more remote areas.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1390860 lamarckianus Endemic flora of Mauritius Critically endangered plants Taxonomy articles created by Polbot