Senecio serpens (Blue chalksticks)

Senecio serpens G.D. Rowley

Blue chalksticks

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Senecio	From senex, “old man,” referring to the gray hairs on the seeds
Species	serpens	Snake-like

About plant names...

This succulent is a native of South Africa, and is not found in the wild in North America. Gardeners in arid regions like them for ground cover.

Identification: Plants can reach 12" (30 cm) in height and 24-36" (60-91 cm) in diameter. Canoe- or banana-shaped succulent leaves 1-8" (2.5-20 cm) × ¼-½" (6.3-12 mm) around are a light powdered blue or blue-green in color. Flowers are small, white, on short stalks.

Online References:

Senecio serpens on Desert-tropicals.com

Senecio serpens on PhytoImages

Senecio serpens on Flickr

Senecio serpens on CalPhotos

Senecio serpens on www.sedumphotos.net

Kleinia repens

Senecio serpens description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California

Range: Zones 9b-10:

About this map...