Senecio in the broad sense, is a very large genus in the daisy family (Asteraceae). They produce composite flowers with ray florets, it is this that generally distinguishes species belonging to the family. However, some like Kleinia lack these ray florets. The family has many succulent members, formerly mainly included in Senecio and Othonna, but has recently been separated in several genera. The succulent members are well represented in Southern Africa with several genera and species from the Western Cape throughout South Africa and neighboring countries.