Species
Senecio colensoi
Etymology
Senecio: From the Latin senex 'old man' (probably referring to the bearded seeds)
colensoi: Named after William Colenso (7 November 1811 - 10 February 1899) who was a Cornish Christian missionary to New Zealand, and also a printer, botanist, explorer and politician.
Authority
Senecio colensoi Hook.f.
Family
Asteraceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites
Synonyms
Senecio colensoi Hook.f. var. colensoi, Senecio colensoi var. lobulatus Allan, Senecio colensoi var. obtusifolius Allan
Distribution
Endemic. North Island, East Coast from the Hawkes Bay south to Cape Turnagain. Extending inland to Lake Taupo
Chromosome No.
2n = 60
Endemic Taxon
Yes
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Taxonomic notes
Most botanists now include Senecio colensoi within S. banksii - but the published evidence for this is wanting - i.e. no formal study of this species pair has been presented just an opinion based on a brief examination of herbarium specimens (Webb et al. 1988). As such until a proper, critical study of the two species is undertaken it seems prudent to retain them as distinct especially as in the field both species are easily distinguished and have been found growing sympatrically. Senecio colensoi differs from S. banksii mainly by the leaves which are densely covered with silvery-white lanate hairs. It is also a smaller, less heavily branched plant.
References and further reading
Webb CJ, Sykes WR, Garnock-Jones PJ 1988. Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Botany Division, DSIR, Christchurch.
This page last updated on 19 Jun 2016