Senecio sisparensis (Asteraceae), a new species from southern Western Ghats, India

Abstract

A new species of Senecio (Asteraceae), S. sisparensis, has been collected from Silent Valley National Park, Palakkad, Kerala, India. It is morphologically close to the species grouped in cluster 24 by Jeffrey et al., most closely similar to S. griffithii; however, it differs in its habit, leaves, capitula, bracts, ray florets and achene characters. Therefore, this new species is described with a detailed description, phenology and conservation status, along with a photographic plate to facilitate easy identification.