New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
  • Member login
  • Join
Facebook
  • Home
  • Flora
    • Flora species
    • Vascular
    • Non Vascular
    • Plant identification
    • Fungi
    • Make your own book
    • Quiz
  • Threats
    • Exotic Plants (Weeds)
    • Pest Animals
    • Other threats
  • Ecosystems
    • Plant communities
    • Ecosystem services
    • Novel ecosystems
  • Publications
    • Documents
    • Newsletter
    • Plant lists
    • Botanical Society journals
    • NZPCN publications
  • Conservation
    • Seedbank
    • Training
    • Restoration
    • Monitoring
    • Habitat protection
    • Funding
    • Botanic gardens
  • NZPCN
    • News
    • Trilepidea newsletter
    • Events
    • David Given Scholarship
    • Members
    • Council members
    • Awards
    • Shop
    • Donate
    • Favourite Plant
    • Why join NZPCN?
    • Join
  • Help
    • FAQ
    • Query
    • Glossary
  • Contact us

Search flora

You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Flora
  3. Flora species
  4. Senecio scaberulus

Senecio scaberulus

Senecio scaberulus young foliage showing hairs and leaf colouration. In cultivation ex Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 03/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Seedling about three weeks old, Papanui Point, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Bec Stanley, Date taken: 01/07/1998, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0'>CC BY-SA</a>.
Achenes showing hairs scattered across seed surface. In cultivation ex Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 17/01/2007, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Senecio scaberulus cypsela showing pappus hairs. In cultivation ex Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 17/07/2007, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>.
Flowering plant.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Flowering plant.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Flowering plant.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Senecio scaberulus young plant at early flowering stage, Ex Cult., Jesmond Terrace, Mt Albert, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Date taken: 20/05/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Leaf auricles and stem showing dense hair covering. In cultivation ex Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 03/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Foliage showing hairy leaf surfaces and dull colouration. In cultivation ex Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 03/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Senecio scaberulus young inflorescence. In cultivation ex Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 03/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Senecio scaberulus capitula and involucral bracts. In cultivation ex Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 03/07/2006, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Close up of inflorescence note the few-flowered rather lax habit, Ex Cult. (Papanui Point), 28 Oct 2006, Jesmond Terrace, Mt Albert, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Leaf surfaces (under and top sides) and auricles of upper cauline leaves, Ex Cult. (Papanui Point), 28 Oct 2006, Jesmond Terrace, Mt Albert, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Peter J. de Lange, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Papanui Point.<br>Photographer: Gillian M. Crowcroft, Date taken: 01/11/1992, Licence: All rights reserved. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Te Paki.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 22/10/2009, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Lower cauline leaf. Te Paki.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 22/10/2009, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Capitula. Te Paki.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 22/10/2009, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Capitula showing involucral bracts. Te Paki.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 22/10/2009, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
On coastal bank under pohutukawa, Whangerei Heads Northland.<br>Photographer: Marley Ford, Date taken: 07/11/2020, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
On coastal bank under pohutukawa, Whangerei Heads Northland.<br>Photographer: Marley Ford, Date taken: 07/11/2020, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
On coastal bank under pohutukawa, Whangerei Heads Northland.<br>Photographer: Marley Ford, Date taken: 07/11/2020, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Download PDF Comment on factsheet

NZPCN members can select up to 20 plant species and automatically create a full colour, fully illustrated A4 book describing them (in PDF format).

  • Find out more...
  • Join NZPCN...
Find in plant lists
iNaturalist NZ View observations Te Papa View specimens Donate Support NZPCN

Common name

fireweed

Synonyms

Erechtites scaberulus Hook.f. var. scaberulus, E. scaberulus var. chathamica Allan, Senecio hispidulus var. scaberulus (Hook.f.) Belcher, Senecio hispidulus A.Cunn. nom. illegit.

Family

Asteraceae

Authority

Senecio scaberulus (Hook.f.) D.G.Drury

Flora category

Vascular – Native

Endemic taxon

Yes

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Structural class

Herbs - Dicotyledonous composites

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.

SENSCA

Chromosome number

2n = 60

Current conservation status

  • Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017

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). 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.

2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF

Previous conservation statuses

2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF

2004 | Threatened – Nationally Endangered

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand, North Island from the Three Kings Islands south to Raglan Harbour and the Purua River, north of Thames. S. scaberulus is now mainly seen in eastern Northland and on some of the Hauraki Gulf Islands (Fanal, Ponui and Goat Islands). Also known from Chatham (Rekohu) Island where it was last seen in February 1996. Recorded from the South Island from Picton, Akaroa and Dunedin. All these port records (which include the type gathering) are possibly accidental introductions from the North Island via shipping traffic as this species was once abundant on the Auckland waterfront. Senecio scaberulus has not been reliably recorded from the South Island since the 1860s.

Habitat

Coastal scrub, forest margins and clearings. Shaded sites amongst short grasses, under coastal pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa Sol. ex Gaertn.) forest or short scrub, on rock outcrops, cliffs or banks near the sea, often occurring with Senecio hispidulus A.Rich. Also found at inland sites, on bare lava, with forest on bluffs and in canopy gaps.

Features

Grey-green to silvery grey-green, annual or short-lived perennial herb up to 1.5 m tall (usually much less, and depending on local growing conditions). All vegetative parts densely covered in short hairs of both the velutinous and hispid type. Mid cauline leaves 30-200 x 0.5-6 mm, upper surface dark grey-green, covered in distinctly shorter more hispid hairs, undersides pale grey to purple, densely invested in longer, velutinous hairs. Lamina initially sessile becoming shortly petiolate further up stem; lamina narrowly to broadly ovate-elliptic, dentate, pinnately lobed, or pinnatifid, with segments triangular to narrow-oblong, or 1-3-pinnatifid at base. Uppermost leaves similar but smaller, lanceolate, dentate, lobed or sometimes entire. Inflorescences 1-3 per plant, either in sparse or densely flowered corymbs depending on growing conditions, glabrescent. Supplementary bracts 4-8, 1-2 mm long. Involucral bracts 10-13, glabrescent or glabrous, 5-7 mm long. Ray florets absent. Disc sulphur yellow, 2-3 mm diam. Cypsela (seed) 2-3 mm long, subcylindric, slightly constricted below apex, deeply and longitudinally ribbed, surface more or less evenly covered in short hispid hairs.

Similar taxa

Senecio hispidulus A.Rich. is similar but usually larger, and its more heavily divided leaves are covered with short white hairs that have a rasp-like rather than velvety texture when brushed. It also has a more crowded inflorescence and slightly smaller cypsela (seeds) which only have hairs in distinct rows rather than scattered over the seed surface. S. scaberulus might also be confused with S. glomeratus Poiret, but that species is copiously covered in long white, cob-webbed (lanate) hairs.

Flowering

October-February

Flower colours

Yellow

Fruiting

November - April

Propagation technique

Easy from fresh seed. Does best in a free draining semi-shaded site with minimal competition from taller plants. Rather fast growing. However, this is a weedy species which is unlikely to prove popular in cultivation.

Threats

This species is seriously threatened throughout its range. Formerly widespread in open successional habitats, especially the Auckland lava fields, these habitats have either been lost to urbanisation or covered in foreign weed species. Browsing by domestic stock, feral mammals and exotic invertebrate herbivores appears to be a problem in some areas. At all of the known sites the species is still subjected to competition from exotic plants. Hybridization with Senecio hispidulus is also believed to be a serious threat to this species.

Etymology

senecio: From the Latin senex ‘old man’ (probably referring to the bearded seeds)

scaberulus: A little roughened

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for the NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 12 July 2005. Description by P.J. de Lange and subsequently published in de Lange et al. (2010).

References and further reading

de Lange, P.J.; Heenan, P.B.; Norton, D.A.; Rolfe, J.R.; Sawyer, J.W.D. 2010: Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.

NZPCN Fact Sheet citation

Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Senecio scaberulus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/senecio-scaberulus/ (Date website was queried)

▲ Back to top
  • Home
  • Flora
  • Threats
  • Ecosystems
  • Publications
  • Conservation
  • NZPCN
  • Help
  • Contact us

© 2023 New Zealand Plant Conservation Network • Website by RS

Coastlands Plant Nursery Wildlands

Website sponsor

  • Home
  • Flora
    • Flora species
    • Vascular
      • Ferns
        • King fern
        • True ferns
        • Adder's tongue ferns
        • Fork ferns and whisk ferns
        • Horsetails
      • Conifers
        • Celery pines
        • Kauri
        • Podocarps
          • Podocarpus
          • Dacrydium
          • Prumnopitys
          • Dacrycarpus
          • Halocarpus
          • Lepidothamnus
          • Manoao
        • Cypress
      • Flowering plants
        • Parasites
          • Leafy mistletoes
          • Pygmy mistletoes
            • Korthalsella flowers
            • Korthalsella hosts
            • Dispersal of Korthalsella
            • Associates of Korthalsella
          • Root parasites
          • Saprophytes
        • Epiphytes
          • NZ
            • Typical
            • Occasional
            • Hemi-epiphytes
            • Ephemeral
            • NZ list
        • Monocots
          • Orchids
            • Structure
          • Grasses
        • Dicots
          • Hebes
          • Kowhai
          • Coprosma
          • Beech
          • Rata
        • Carnivorous
        • Deciduous plants
        • Aquatic plants
      • Poisonous natives
      • Threatened plant lists
      • What's a vascular plant?
      • Club mosses
    • Non Vascular
      • Bryophytes
        • Liverworts
        • Mosses
        • Hornworts
      • Algae
        • Seaweeds
      • Lichens
    • Plant identification
      • Written descriptions
      • Experts
      • Plant keys
        • Key to parasitic plant genera
      • Collecting plants
        • Should I collect
        • Choosing a specimen
        • Field notes
        • Fresh plant material
        • Pressing and drying
        • Mounting specimens
        • Labelling specimens
    • Fungi
    • Make your own book
    • Quiz
  • Threats
    • Exotic Plants (Weeds)
      • Unwanted organisms
      • DOC weeds
      • Plant me instead
      • Pest Plant Accord
    • Pest Animals
      • Mammals
        • Mustelids
        • Rodents
        • Ungulates
        • Possums
      • Fish
      • Insects
    • Other threats
      • Natural events
        • Insects
      • Human induced
        • Habitat loss
        • Collection
        • Climate change
  • Ecosystems
    • Plant communities
      • Dunes
        • Volcanic
        • Coastal
          • Threats
          • Common species
          • Research on dunes
          • Pingao research
          • What you can do
      • Wetlands
        • Estuaries
          • Common estuarine species
          • Research on estuaries
        • Ephemeral
        • Restiad peat bogs
      • Forests
        • Kauri-podocarp-broadleaved
        • Podocarp broadleaved
        • Beech
      • Scrub/shrublands
        • Geothermal
          • Distribution of geothermal vegetation
          • Geothermal plants
          • Geothermal vegetation types
          • Threats to geothermal vegetation
        • Frost flat/hollow
        • Manuka fens
        • Gumlands
      • Grasslands
        • Tussock grasslands
      • Bare ground
        • Braided rivers
        • Alpine
        • Cliff
        • Scree and boulderfields
        • Shingle beaches
      • Herbfields
        • Saltpan
    • Ecosystem services
    • Novel ecosystems
  • Publications
    • Documents
    • Newsletter
    • Plant lists
      • Plant lists by region
      • Search plant lists
      • National plant lists
      • How to prepare a plant list
    • Botanical Society journals
    • NZPCN publications
  • Conservation
    • Seedbank
      • Project 1 - Pohutukawa, Rata and Myrtaceae
      • Project 2 - Alpine flora and the Forget-Me-Nots
      • Project 3 - Kowhai and its relatives
      • Project 4 - Podocarps and trees of the forest
    • Training
      • Module 1: Plant life
      • Module 2: Covenants
      • Module 3: Propagation
      • Module 4: Wetlands
      • Pilot course 2006
    • Restoration
      • Gardening
        • Being weed wise
        • Garden plants
          • Trees and shrubs
          • Broad-leaved herbs
          • Grass-like herbs
          • Climbers
          • Ferns
        • Attracting wildlife
        • Planting for lizards
          • Rules
      • Species recovery
        • Plant translocations
      • Ecological restoration
        • Case studies
          • Tavora Reserve
          • Waiwhakareke
      • Revegetation
      • Eco-sourcing
      • Find a restoration group
    • Monitoring
      • Number count
        • Number count method
        • Pros and cons of number counts
        • Data analysis and interpretation
      • Presence/absence surveys
        • Presence/absence survey methods
        • Pros and cons of presence/absence surveys
        • Data analysis and interpretation
      • Mapping spatial extent
        • Spatial extent mapping methods
        • Pros and cons of spatial extent mapping
        • Data analysis and interpretation
      • Photo points
        • Photo point guidelines
    • Habitat protection
      • Legal protection
        • Nga Whenua Rahui
        • QEII covenants
        • DOC Covenants
      • Animal pest control
      • Weed control
      • Fencing
    • Funding
    • Botanic gardens
  • NZPCN
    • News
    • Trilepidea newsletter
    • Events
      • Conference 2022
        • Conference programme summary
        • 2022 conference workshops
        • 2022 conference field trips
        • Code of conduct
        • COVID-19 information
        • 2022 conference sponsors
        • Abstract and poster submission
        • 2022 Conference venue and accommodation
        • Conference Workshop: Restoration Pathways
        • 2022 conference postponement
      • Conference 2019
      • Conference 2017
      • Conference 2015
        • Speakers
        • Workshops
        • Field trips
        • Charity auction
      • Conference 2013
        • Speakers
        • Timetable
      • 2023 Restoration Pathways Workshop
    • David Given Scholarship
      • David Given Scholarship Recipients
    • Members
    • Council members
      • NZPCN council member profiles
      • Council 2013
      • Council 2012
      • Council 2011
      • Council 2010
      • Council 2009
      • Council 2008
      • Council 2007
      • Council 2006
      • Council 2005
      • Council 2004
      • Council 2003
    • Awards
      • NZPCN Awards
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
        • 2012
        • 2011
        • 2010
        • 2009
        • 2008
        • 2007
        • 2006
        • 2005
        • 2022
    • Shop
    • Donate
    • Favourite Plant
    • Why join NZPCN?
    • Join
  • Help
    • FAQ
      • Joining the Network
      • The Network
      • Network website
      • New Zealand plants
      • The law
      • Your discoveries
    • Query
    • Glossary
  • Contact us