Appearance
It is an erect, glabrous herb that grows up to 20–60 cm in length. It may become woody and shrub-like in appropriate conditions. Leaves are alternate, narrow-lanceolate to elliptic in shape, usually bright green, smooth with margins that are lobed, serrate or entire. The broader, larger leaves are stem clenching and fleshy, 2–7 cm long and 3-10mm wide.The flowerhead, which is part of an unfirm corymb, is made up of disc florets and ray florets, and is small, yellow and daisy-like, from 1–2 cm in diameter. The plant flowers between late autumn and early spring in its native area. The fruit is an achene that is 1.5-2.5mm long and is brown-coloured, with a pappus that is 4-6.5mm long.
Habitat
It is found in pastures, open woodlands, grasslands, suburban bushland, roadsides, disturbed sites, wastelands, parks and coastal environments in subtropical and warmer temperate regions.Defense
"Senecio madagascariensis" contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and is poisonous. Horses, cattle, and other livestock are at risk.Symptoms of poisoning from fireweed include gradual weight loss, jaundice, fluid in the lungs, blindness, sudden death without any other indications, aimless wandering, muscular coordination, twitching of the head muscles, abdominal straining, rectal prolapse, and irritability.
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