Weber indicates that Ligularia has turbinate, nodding, succulent heads; succulent, coarsely dentate, often purplish, and clasping leaves; roots little branched and ropy; and a strong lemon scent.  Senecio has none of these characteristics.

     "Ligula" is Latin for "strap", probably referring to the long petals or leaves of some members of this genus.

Synonym: Ligularia amplectens.  Senecio amplectens variety amplectens.
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Subalpine, alpine. Woodlands, openings. Summer.
Kennebec Pass, July 18, 2006.

The top picture at left of Ligularia amplectens shows wide green bracts becoming very dark and triangular-tipped.  On top of these bracts is a second set of very narrow, dark bracts.  The bottom picture at left shows a younger flower of Ligularia holmii with bracts much lighter in color but with the same shape and relative colors.  As indicated elsewhere on this page, these two plants are considered varieties: Senecio amplectens variety amplectens and Senecio amplectens variety holmii.

Montane, subalpine. Meadows. Summer.
El Diente Trail, July 22, 2004.

Ligularia bigelovii bract (phyllary) color varies considerably.  The flowers in the long photograph are fully open.  L. bigelovii has only tightly packed disk flowers; it has no ray flowers and the flower heads always nod.

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, scree. Summer.
Kennebec Pass, July 18, 2005.

Ligularia holmii is highly variable in plant size, ranging from just a few inches tall and wide (as pictured on the first page of Ligularia photographs) to robust clumps over a foot tall and wide as shown at left.  At Kennebec Pass hundreds of massive clusters of plants put on a spectacular show -- and there are dozens of other species tumbling down the mountain side with Ligularia holmii.

Subalpine, alpine. Meadows, scree. Summer.
Kennebec Pass, July 18, 2006.

Ray flowers in this plant are slightly more mature and wider than the rays of the plants in the two above pictures.