Senecio longiflorus subs. scottii Photo by: © Plantemania
This is the only succulent member of the Asteraceae to be found on Socotra.
Origin and Habitat: Kleinia scottiiSN|33508]]SN|33508]] is a rare species, with a very limited area of occupancy endemic to Socotra and Abd al Kuri islands (Yemen). It has also been recorded from Somalia
Altitude range: 500-800 metres above sea level (Socotra). 1200–1740 m (Somalia).
Habitat and ecology: Kleinia scottiiSN|33508]]SN|33508]] is mostly found at heights above 500 metres on both limestone and granite in semi-deciduous woodland. This species forms a caracteristic formation on limestone together with Dorstenia gigasSN|16420]]SN|16420]] and Ficus socotrana (Moraceae). Other common endemics include Tatragonia pentandra (Aizoaceae), Euphorbia oblanceolata (Euphorbiaceae) and Hibiscus scottii (Malvaceae).
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Senecio longiflorus
Description: Senecio longiflorusSN|32930]]SN|32930]] subs. scottii, best known as Kleinia scottiiSN|33508]]SN|33508]], is a small succulent shrub 0.2–0.6(–1.2) m tall, with rounded, pencil-like stems that bear distinctive markings radiating downwards from the leaf scars. This is the only succulent Compositae on Soqotra.
Stems: Compact and twiggy, glabrous, densely branched with fairly short internodes, more or less distinctly striate-sulcate, 4–10 mm in diam., glaucous, with rounded leaf scars 1–1.5 mm in diameter.
Leaves: Fleshy, linear-oblanceolate, up to at least 8 long, 3 mm wide, entire, deciduous, with a hardened often persistent base.
Inflorescences (capitula):* Few, smaller than ssp. longiflorus, cylindrical, usually 1–3, in unbranched or sparsely branched clusters on peduncles up to 10 mm long. Calyculus of 1–4 bracts 1–2 mm long. Phyllaries 5–7, 7–9 long, 1–2 mm wide, minutely pubescent at the apex. Florets (5-)6–8(-12) yellowish white. Corolla 12–15 mm long, lobes 1–1.5 mm long and erect. Stigmatic appendages shortly conical, papillose and usually with a tuft of longer papillae.
Fruit/seed (achene): 3–4 mm long, pubescent; pappus hairs dirty white, 10–20 mm long, slightly shorter to longer than the corolla.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Senecio longiflorus group
Notes: Halliday (1988) considered Kleinia scottiiSN|19319]]SN|33508]] to be very closely related to, or even conspecific with, the Somalian species Kleinia polytoma, but some of the collections treated as K. polycotoma (as K. polytoma) by Halliday are included here by M. Thulin (2000). Kleinia scottiiSN|19329]]SN|33508]] is close to Kleinia odoraSN|33508]]SN|19329]], but in the field, for example near Dayaxa in Somalia where the two species occur together, the small, compact, twiggy plants of Kleinia scottiiSN|19329]]SN|33508]] are easily distinguished from the larger and more long-branched plants of Kleinia odoraSN|33508]]SN|19329]]. An other allied specie mentioned by Halliday (1988) Kleinia squarrosa has a tropical African distribution. Kleinia neriifoliaSN|33508]]SN|19319]] is a common succulent in semi-arid to arid habitats in the Canary Islands. More recently, Rowley (in Eggli 2002) treats K. scottii as a subspecies (ssp. scottii) of Senecio longifoliusSN|18196]]SN|18196]], a widespread succulent throughout tropical Africa, Madagascar and South Africa.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Gary Brown, Bruno Mies “Vegetation Ecology of Socotra” Springer Science & Business Media, 22 May 2012
2) Urs Eggli “Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Dicotyledons” Springer Science & Business Media, 2002
3) Peter Martin Rhind “Plant Formations in the Socotran BioProvince” <http://terrestrial-biozones.net/Paleotropic%20Vegetation/Socotran%20Vegetation.pdf>
4) Gwynne, M. D. “Socotra”. In: Conservation of Vegetation in Africa south of the
Sahara.” Eds. I. Hedberg and O. Hedberg. Acta Phytogeogrraphica Suecica, 54: 275-279. 1968.
5) Miller, A. G. & Morris, M. “Ethnoflora of the Soqotra Archipelago”. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Edinburgh. 2004.
6) Popov, G. B. “The vegetation of Socotra”. Journal of the Linnean Society Botany, 55: 706-720. 1957.
7) Miller, A. 2004. Kleinia scotti. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T44845A10952928. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T44845A10952928.en. Downloaded on 06 January 2017.
8) M. Thulin et al “Flora Somalia”, 2000 [updated by M. Thulin 2008]
9) P.Halliday “Kleinia scottii” hooker's Icon. Pl. Pl., 39(4): t. 3897 (1988)
Cultivation and Propagation: Senecio longiflorusSN|32930]]SN|32930]] subs. scottii is a winter-grower succulent that makes great potted specimens.
Soil: They grow well in a rich, well drained soil such us pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould.
Growth rate: Slow to moderate growth rate.
Repotting: If potted, repot them preferably in the spring, if their roots become cramped. Generally, they should be repotted every other year in order to provide fresh soil. However, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll need larger containers. Fill about a quarter of the pot with broken crocks, gravel, etc. to promote good drainage. After repotting, do not water for a week or more. Use pot with good drainage. Eventually, as the plant becomes mature grow it slowly, and adopt a new repotting period, using intervals of every 2 - 3 years. Additionally grow it under drier conditions or with stronger sunlight.
Watering: Water sparingly from March until October so long as the plant pot is allowed to drain and not sit in a tray of water (It rots easily, especially if over wet), and also needs to be avoided wetting the body of this plant while it is in sunlight. Let dry between watering. From July watering should be reduced to force the plant to go into a state of semi dormancy, by September onward the plant will begin to grow and watering should be increased gradually until late November when the plant should be in full growth.
Fertilization: Low food needs. Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in early autumn only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onward as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: When dormant, the plant is slightly cold tolerant (down to nearly -5° C or less), but when left out it is more sensitive to frost. However warmth throughout the year will increase the grower's success (at minimum temperatures from 5 to 15 centigrade degrees during winter). During the summer it is best to keep the plants outside where the temperature can rise to over 30 C with no harm to the plant.
Exposure: They do need a lot of light to develop their typical compact shape, but different clones vary in their tolerance of full sunshine. However some protection in light shade is recommended during the hottest hours in summer. They can tolerate moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun. If kept too dark they may become overly lush and greener and could be prone to rotting due to over watering.
Diseases and pests: Watch for infestations of mealybugs, scale insects and spider mite. Rot is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: It is easy from seed in spring but less so from cuttings. Cuttings grow easily once left to callous for several days and then planted in succulent soil. Seeds germinate in 14-21 days at 21°C.
Senecio longiflorus (DC.) Sch.Bip.: (ssp. longiflorus)
