Senecio glaucophyllus
Family
Asteraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Chromosome number
2n = 100
Current conservation status
The conservation 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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp, St
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon
2004 | Range Restricted
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (North-west Nelson from Mt Burnett (Whakamarama Range) to the Pikikirunga and Arthur Ranges in the east).
Habitat
Montane to alpine (300–1400 m a.s.l.). A calcicole confined to limestone, marble, dolomite-limestone, dolomite-marble and dolomite rock outcrops and boulderfalls. Usually found in open sites or in sparsely vegetated situations, sometimes in shrubland, often around cave entrances and sink holes (tomo).
Detailed description
Erect, glabrous, summer-green, glaucous, perennial herb up to 0.9 × 1.0 m. Rootstock woody. Branches arising from base, dying back to base in winter with new seasons growth arising from numerous shoots at or just beneath soil surface. Stems not or only sparingly branched, 0.15–1 m tall. Lower stem leaves shortly petiolate, petiole broad and tapering; lamina 20–30 mm long, glaucous above, paler beneath, oblanceolate, obovate, elliptic to almost rhomboid, apex obtuse to acute, base attenuate, margins serrate to sinuate-serrate, rarely sub-entire. Mid stem leaves similar up to 90 mm long, narrowing to a broad petiole or subamplexicaul to amplexicaul. Upper stem leaves much narrower and smaller, bases auriculate, auricles deeply lacerate or entire. Inflorescences terminal, of (1)–10–(15) capitula arranged corymbosely, overtopping leaves. Involucral bracts 5 mm long, linear. Ray florets 10–16, ligules 2–6 × 2–2.5 mm, bright yellow, linear ovate, ovate to oblong. Disc 5–8 mm diameter. Cypsela 2.5–3.5 × 0.5–0.7 mm, brown, dark brown to black-brown, narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblong-elliptic, slightly narrowed to or constricted below apex, base cuneate. Ribs broad and rounded; grooves deep, u-shaped; hairs retrorse in 1–6 rows, confined to grooves. Pappus 4.5–6.5 mm long, white.
Similar taxa
Morphologically S. glaucophyllus is most likely to be confused with the type form of S. banksii Hook.f. which occupies similar habitats in the North Island, has similar glaucous to glaucescent leaves and flowers. However, S. banksii is in the North Island only, has smaller seeds (up to 3.0 × 0.6 cf. 3.5 × 0.7 mm) and a different chromosome number (2n = 60).
Flowering
November–January
Flower colours
Yellow
Fruiting
January–April
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and semi-hardwood cuttings. Does best in a pot in soil enriched with lime. Inclined to be short-lived.
Threats
Senecio glaucophyllus faces no apparent threats. However, it is known from very few places, and common at none. This very restricted distribution makes it highly susceptible to environmental change.
Substrate
Dolomite and Marble
Etymology
senecio: From the Latin senex ‘old man’ (probably referring to the bearded seeds)
glaucophyllus: Blue or greyish/bluish leaves; having bloom on the leaves
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Taxonomic notes
A very distinctive plant perhaps closely allied to Senecio banksii s.s. The Senecio glaucophyllus complex, including S. matatini, was revised by Liew et al. 2021. For more information on the group please refer to this paper (reference below)
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 November 2008, modified by R Hindmarsh-Walls 06 Feb 2022. Description based on Ornduff (1960), Webb et al. (1988) supplemented by observations obtained from fresh specimens and herbarium material
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
References and further reading
Liew C-S, Courtney SP, de Lange PJ, Pelser PB. 2021. Taxonomic realignment of Senecio glaucophyllus (Asteraceae; Senecioneae) necessitates a new name for a widespread New Zealand species. New Zealand Journal of Botany 59(3): 376–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2020.1866030.
Ornduff R. 1960. An interpretation of the Senecio lautus complex in New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 88: 63–77.
Webb CJ, Sykes WR, Garnock-Jones PJ. 1988. Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Christchurch, NZ. 1365 p.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Senecio glaucophyllus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/senecio-glaucophyllus/ (Date website was queried)