Description: This native perennial wildflower is ½–2' tall. At the base of each plant, there is a small rosette of basal leaves spanning about 6-8" across. The blades of the basal leaves are typically 2" long and 2" across; they are cordate-orbicular in shape, crenate-dentate along their margins, and hairless. The slender petioles of the basal leaves are as long as the blades. A flowering stalk develops from the center of each rosette. Along this stalk, there are usually 2-3 alternate leaves. The alternate leaves are smaller in size than the basal leaves and pinnatifid in shape. Both the alternate leaves and the stalk are hairless during the blooming period and thereafter. The stalk terminates in a flat-headed panicle (or corymb) of flowerheads. The branches of this panicle are slender and hairless. Each daisy-like flowerhead is ½–1" across; in the center there are numerous golden yellow disk florets, which are surrounded by 6-16 yellow ray florets. Both the disk and ray florets are fertile. Surrounding the base of the flowerhead, there are numerous linear green bracts in a single series. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. Each floret is replaced by a bullet-shaped achene with a small tuft of white hairs. The achenes are distributed by the wind. The short rootstock has spreading fibrous roots and it produces rhizomes (or stolons). Vegetative colonies of plants are often produced in favorable habitats.
Cultivation: The preference is full sun to light
shade, wet to mesic conditions, and soil with abundant organic matter to retain
moisture. Plants that grow in sunlight require more moisture than plants
growing in shade.
Range &
Habitat: Golden Ragwort is occasional throughout Illinois (see
Distribution
Map). Habitats include wet to mesic deciduous woodlands, damp woodland
openings, seeps and edges of springs, banks of rivers and lakes, slopes of
rocky ravines, glades, moist meadows, roadside embankments, and abandoned
fields. Golden Ragwort is more shade-tolerant than many other Senecio
spp. (Ragworts) in the state.
Faunal
Associations: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract small
bees and flies primarily. Among the bees, are such visitors as Little Carpenter
bees, Cuckoo bees (Nomada spp.), and various Halictid bees. Among the
flies, are such visitors as Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, and miscellaneous
others. The caterpillars of the moth Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) feed
on Senecio spp. (Ragworts). The foliage is shunned by most mammalian
herbivores because of its toxicity, although sheep are more tolerant and will
eat it.
Photographic
Location: A wooded area near a lake at Shades State Park in
west-central Indiana.
Comments:
Goldenrod Ragwort is an attractive spring wildflower. In Illinois, the
perennial Senecio spp. (Ragworts) differ from each other by the shape of
their basal leaves. Among these, Golden Ragwort has the most orbicular basal
leaves; each blade is slightly indented at the base where it is joined by the
petiole. Other perennial Ragworts have more slender basal leaves that are
usually oval to elliptic in shape. One of them, Senecio plattensis
(Prairie Ragwort), has conspicuous hairs on its leaves and stems, while mature
plants of Golden Ragwort are hairless. A scientific synonym of Golden Ragwort
is Packera aurea, and it is sometimes referred to as 'Heart-Leaved
Ragwort' or 'Heart-Leaved Groundsel.'