Common name: Sonki, Graham's groundsel • Marathi: सोनकी Sonki
Botanical name: Senecio bombayensis Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Sonki is a gregarious plant of the Western Ghats which makes a splash
during its mass flowering with the advent of monsoons. It is seen on
hill-slopes, old roofs and forks of trees. It is an erect branched
annual herb, growing to 30-100 cm high. Alternately arranged, rhomboid,
coarsely toothed leaves are 3-10 cm long. Golden yellow flower-heads are 1-2
cm across. Ray-flowers ("petals") are 10-15 in number, linear oblong. Disk
flowers are also yellow, but in a darker shade.
| Photographed in Maharshatra. |
Identification credit: Prashant Awale
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