Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asterales Link
Family
Compositae Giseke
Genus
Senecio L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Senecio minimus Poir. in Poiret, Encycl. (Lamarck) Suppl. 5. 130 (1817)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Erechtites minimus (Poir.) DC., Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 6, 437 (1838) – as minima
  • = Erechtites pumilus DC., Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 6, 297 (1838) – as pumila
  • = Senecio heterophylla Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 27: 389 (1895)
  • ≡ Erechtites minimus var. heterophyllus (Colenso) Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 730-731 (1961) – as heterophylla
  • = Erechtites minimus var. angustatus Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 731, 971 (1961) – as angustata
Vernacular Name(s):
Fireweed
 Description

Erect annual or short-lived perennial herb. Mid cauline lvs glabrous, or sparsely clothed in short hairs especially on lower surface, apetiolate, narrow-elliptic to narrow-lanceolate, evenly, finely dentate, with dentate, amplexicaul basal lobes, 40–160–(200) × 5–25–(40) mm. Uppermost lvs smaller and sometimes linear. Supplementary bracts 3–5, 1–2 mm long. Involucral bracts (7)–8–(10), glabrous, 4.5–6.5 mm long. Ray florets 0. Disc yellow, 1–2 mm diam. Achenes subcylindric, only slightly narrowed to and slightly constricted below apex, with 1–2–(3) rows of hairs on ribs, 1.8–2 mm long.

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

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Apr.

 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1895: Phaenogams: A description of a few more newly-discovered indigenous plants; being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 27: 383–399.
de Candolle, A.P. 1838 ("1837"): Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. Vol. 6. Treuttel et Würtz, Paris.
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]
Poiret, J.L.M. 1817: Encyclopédie Méthodique, Botanique. Vol. Supplement 5.