TAXONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE GENUS SENECIO L., S.L. (ASTERACEAE) IN AZERBAIJAN

Abstract. The article provides a systematic analysis of the species of the genus Senecio L., belonging to the Asteraceae family, distributed in Azerbaijan. As a result of the analysis of literature data, internetresources, materials in Herbarium Fund, as well as herbarium material collected by the authorsduring the expeditions organized in recent years as well as monitoring data, it was determined thatthere are 21 species of this genus belonging to 8 sections in the wild flora of Azerbaijan (“18 speciesbelonging to the genus are given in “Flora of Azerbaijan”). The authors consider it appropriate tokeep the genus into a wide extent as accepted by classical and modern botanists (currently, someEuropean botanists divide this genus into 5-7 independent genera, and most of them are accepted inthe World Flora Online database). The article clarifies the controversial points in the distribution ofseveral species (S.cladobotrys, S.thyrsophorus, S.pojarkoviae, S. paucilobus, S.noeanus, S. kubensis,S. racemosus) of the genus. The endemism of the species of the genus was also analyzed and it became clear that 17 of the 21 species of the Senecio genus distributed in Azerbaijan are of Caucasian origin (endemic and subendemic species), this indicates that the Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, isone of the main species formation centers of the genus. The article provides information on thedetailed nomenclature of each species, their types, distribution in Azerbaijan and the world, andenvironmental characteristics.