Senecio colensoi
Synonyms
Senecio colensoi Hook.f. var. colensoi, Senecio colensoi var. lobulatus Allan, Senecio colensoi var. obtusifolius Allan
Family
Asteraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Chromosome number
2n = 60
Current conservation status
The threat classification status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2018 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR, BS
Previous conservation status
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp
Distribution
Endemic. North Island, East Coast from the Hawkes Bay south to Cape Turnagain. Extending inland to Lake Taupo
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.
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.