One of the iconic wildflower images in Central Australia is the sight of the Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii) that can carpet the countryside in spring, usually when the region had good autumn or winter rains. These yellow daisy like flowers are an annual, although they may not appear during drought times.
The yellowtop can reach a height of 30 cm with a yellow centre surrounded by 7-8 petals. The flower centre can be up to 1 cm in diameter with petals spaced apart in a star like formation and up to 2 cm in length.
When the flower set seed it changes into a head of densely white silky bristles.
Common name
Fleshy Groundsel, Yellow Tops
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Alice Springs 
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Alice Springs 
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Alice Springs 
Mass flowering Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Central Australia 
Mass flowering Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Central Australia 
Mass flowering Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Central Australia 
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Alice Springs 
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Alice Springs 
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Alice Springs 
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), Alice Springs
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Senecio
- Species: S. gregorii
- Binomial name: Senecio gregorii