Senecio glomeratus subsp. glomeratus
Common names
fireweed
Biostatus
Native
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites
Flower colours
Yellow
Detailed description
Annual to short-lived perennial herb to 2 m tall. Stems erect or ascending to erect, moderately coarse-hairy, becoming sparsely coarse-hairy and/or appressed cottony or nearly glabrous upwards. Mid stem leaves more or less evenly spaced and sized, 50-200 mm long, dark glaucous green to dark green, elliptic to narrow-elliptic, length:width (l:w) ratio 2-7, coarse-dentate to deeply lobate, rarely not dissected, semiamplexicaul; margin with scattered or frequent denticulations or teeth; both surfaces usually coarse-hairy but commonly coarse hairs sparse or absent above mid stem; lower surface green or purple, above mid stem appressed, woolly, cobwebby or more or less glabrous. Uppermost leaves narrow-elliptic, lanceolate or linear, l:w ratio 3-10; dentate or margin appearing entire due to rolling. Unit Inflorescences of many capitula; total number of capitula per stem often 50-300, over topping variable; mature lateral peduncles mostly 4-13 mm long. Calycular bracteoles of capitula 6-12, 1.0-3.0 mm long; peduncle and margin of bracteoles cobwebby to densely woolly at anthesis; involucre 3.0-6.0 x 1.5-2.5 mm; involucral bracts 12-14, glabrous or basally slightly cobwebby, apex erect; stereomes (on drying) gently to moderately convex, green, black at apex, sometimes with a purple zone 1 mm long immediately below tip, sometimes entirely purple. Florets 26-50, c.80% female, dark sulphur yellow; corolla-lobes deltoid, thickened apically; corolla of bisexual florets 3.5-6.5 mm long, 5-lobed; corolla-lobes of female florets 2-4, mostly 0.2-0.3 mm long; corolla-limb commonly deeper cleft on inner face. Cypsela narrow obloid to narrow-ellipsoid, sometimes slightly clavate, < 1/3 of involucral bract length (1.0-1.7 mm long), commonly all medium to dark red-brown, with papillose hairs in lines or narrow bands, l:w ratio of hairs 3; pappus usually > 5 mm long.
Similar taxa
A distinctive and well marked species not easily confused with any other Senecio species present in New Zealand. The dark glaucous-green, elliptic, usually deeply toothed leaves with often dark purple undersides, distinctive coarse to cobwebbed hairs, and dark sulphur yellow florets serve to distinguish it. This species hybridises with S. hispidulus and S. quadridentatus.
Distribution
Indigenous. Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Present in Australia
Habitat
A weedy species of disturbed ground. Predominantly coastal and lowland but does extend to the subalpine zone. Tolerant of water logged and very dry habitats
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
Erechtites glomerata DC. nom. illegit., Senecio argutus A.Rich. nom. illegit., Erechtites arguta (A.Rich) DC., Erechtites quadridentata var. traversii Allan
Taxonomic notes
Rather variable, and in Australia two subspecies (subsp. glomeratus and subsp. longifructus) are now recognised. Chatham Island plants differ consistently from mainland specimens in having less divided often broader leaves and shorter capitula. They warrant further study.
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
Throughout the year but most plants peak in summer
Fruiting
Late summer to early winter but can present all year
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed. Can become invasive
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FACU: Facultative Upland
Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Etymology
senecio: From the Latin senex ‘old man’ (probably referring to the bearded seeds)
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
SENGLO
Chromosome number
2n = 60
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened | Qualifiers: SO
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally At Risk – Regionally Declining | Qualifiers: Sp, DPR, DPS, DPT, EF, PF, SO
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Otago: 2025 | Regionally Not Threatened
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation Status of Indigenous Vascular Plants in Otago, 2025” Jarvie S et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Thompson, I.R. 2004: Taxonomic studies of Australian Senecio (Asteraceae): 1. The disciform species. Muelleria 19: 101-214.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (12 July 2005). Description based on Thompson (2004).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Senecio glomeratus subsp. glomeratus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/senecio-glomeratus-subsp-glomeratus/ (Date website was queried)