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Synonyms: Senecio pinnatifolius var. pleiocephalus (Rodway) Belcher APNI*
Senecio pectinatus var. pleiocephalus Rodway APNI*
Senecio lautus subsp. alpinus Ali APNI*

Description: Plant to c. 1 m tall, erect or suberect, or ascending from a horizontal rhizome and with few aerial branches, taproot poorly or moderately developed.

Leaves in mid-region of stem and on major branches 2–10 cm long, divided, sometimes not, margin denticulate or serrate. Undivided leaves oblanceolate, 2–8 mm wide; divided leaves with up to 6 oblong or elliptic segments per side. Uppermost leaves commonly elliptic, base attenuate or cuneate, sometimes with basal segments.

Inflorescence with 3–15 heads, peduncles with sparse to dense indumentum of short hairs. Bracteoles 1.5–3.0 mm long, margin usually with dense hairs and with dark purple black apex. Ray florets mostly c. 13.

Achenes 2.5–3.5 mm long, glabrous or with papillose hairs in narrow bands.

Herbarium Sheet

Distribution and occurrence: Grows on south-eastern Australia in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. On the mainland, it is found from the Brindabella ranges in NSW to the Kosciuszko region and to the highlands of eastern Victoria.

Moderate to high altitudes in forest, woodland and alpine meadow.
NSW subdivisions: CT, ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas.

AVH map***

This variety is largely separated from other varieties by its distribution. Smaller-leaved forms may be confused with var. pinnatifolius. However var. alpinus is generally also recognisable by pubescence on both the peduncle and the bracteole margins.