Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asterales Link
Family
Compositae Giseke
Genus
Senecio L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Senecio diaschides D.G.Drury, New Zealand J. Bot. 12: 522-524 (1974)
Synonymy:
  • = Senecio cahillii Belcher, Muelleria 5: 120-122 (1983)
Vernacular Name(s):
Fireweed
 Description

Erect, annual or short-lived perennial herb, up to c. 1.5 m tall. Stems glabrous, branched above to form infl. Lower and mid cauline lvs glabrous, apetiolate, not lobed and remotely dentate to shallowly 1-pinnatisect, linear to lanceolate, acute, cuneate and often amplexicaul and deeply 1–3-fid at base, (4)–6–15–(20) × 0.3–2–(3.5) cm; venation pinnate. Uppermost cauline lvs smaller, entire or remotely dentate, often not amplexicaul. Capitula in loose panicles. Supplementary bracts 4–6, lanceolate, 1–2 mm long. Involucral bracts 8–12, linear, glabrous, 4.5–5.5 mm long. Ray florets 0. Disc yellow, 1–2 mm diam. Achenes subcylindric, only slightly narrowed to and constricted below apex, with 2–(3) rows of hairs in narrow grooves between broad ribs, 1.5–2.8 mm long; pappus 4–6 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Nov.–Apr.

 Bibliography
Belcher, R. O. 1983: New Australian species of erechthitoid Senecio(Asteraceae). Muelleria 5(2): 119–122.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Drury, D. G. 1974: Illustrated and annotated key to the erechtitoid Senecios in New Zealand (Senecioneae-Compositae) with a description of Senecio diaschides. New Zealand Journal of Botany 12: 513–540.