The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Senecio dunedinensis

Etymology

Senecio: From the Latin senex 'old man' (probably referring to the bearded seeds)

Current Conservation Status

2018 - Threatened - Nationally Endangered

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2012 - Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable
2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Sparse

Qualifiers

2012 - DP, EF, Sp
2009 - EF

Authority

Senecio dunedinensis Belcher

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

SENDUN

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

Erechtites diversifolia Petrie, Erechtites quadridentata var. lanceola Kirk

Distribution

Endemic. South Island only, where locally distributed in the east and south from the upper Wairau River to Southland

Habitat

Lowland to subalpine (10-1300 m a.s.l.). Frequenting grey scrub where it grows in shaded sites under taller shrubs. Also often seen growing in shaded sites amongst boulders, or near or under rock overhangs. Sometimes it has been gathered from open grassland.

Features

Erect, annual to short-lived, dark green to purple-green (almost brown-purple) perennial herb. Mid cauline leaves 40-100 x 3-15 mm, dark green, purple-green to brown-purple, glabrescent on both surfaces when mature, sometimes sparsely white-lanate on upper surface, and moderately so on undersides, apetiolate, not amplexicaul, narrow-elliptic or narrowly elliptic-obovate to linear, usually remotely denticulate, sometimes entire, usually revolute, and without lobes at base. Uppermost leaves similar but smaller, usually linear and more distinct white-lanate (particularly on leaf undersides). Supplementary bracts 3-8, 1.2 mm long. Involucral bracts 12-13, glabrous to sparsely lanate, 4.5-5.5 mm long. Ray florets 0. Disc greenish yellow to dark yellow, 2-3 mm diameter, Cypsela 2.5 mm long, dark grey-black, subcylindric, narrowed to and slightly constricted below apex, usually with 2-3 rows of long hairs, these mostly on ribs, sometimes evenly hairy.

Similar Taxa

Rather similar to S. quadridentatus Labill. from which it differs by more stocky growth habit, wider, glabrescent, dark purple-green, brown-purple to dark green leaves, and shorter involucral bracts (4-5.5 cf 5.5-9 mm). Hybrids (or at least plants intermediate between species) are frequent in some parts of the South Island, particularly in disturbed lowland to intermontane habitats. An unnamed entity allied to Senecio dunedinensis is also known - that entity differs by having more deeply toothed, sometimes lyrate-pinnatifid, brown-black to maroon-black leaves. It is more widespread than S. dunedinensis ranging from Eastern Marlborough to the Ahuriri River mouth (Murray & de Lange 2013)

Flowering

November - February

Flower Colours

Green,Yellow

Fruiting

December - April

Propagation Technique

Easy from fresh seed, best treated as an annual. Prefers semi-shade.

Threats

Never common with an apparently naturally sporadic distribution.

Chromosome No.

2n = 40

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 14 Sep 2016