Species

Senecio glastifolius

Etymology

Senecio: From the Latin senex 'old man' (probably referring to the bearded seeds)

Common Name(s)

pink ragwort, holly-leaved senecio

Authority

Senecio glastifolius L.f.

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Habitat

Terrestrial.

Features

An erect, hairless perennial herb, becoming distinctly woody towards it''s base; to 1 m tall. Leaves are oblong or narrow elliptic in shape, with serrated edges and often coarse toothed at base, 3-15 cm long x 1-2.5cm wide 12 -20 purple/pink daisy-like florets with yellow centres, 12-25 mm long. Flowers Sept-Nov.

Similar Taxa

Mauve-pink flowered daisy. A perennial plant (Webb et al. 1988). The plant is often an annual (C.C. Ogle pers. comm.). The plant becomes distinctly woody toward base and forms plants upto 1 m tall. The flower of the plant has 12-22 ray florets and they are mauve-pink or pale to deep pink (Webb et al. 1988). The disc of the flower is yellow.

Flowering

September, October, November

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,Violet / Purple

Year Naturalised

1969

Origin

South Africa

Reason for Introduction

Ornamental

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seed dispersed by wind (Colin Ogle, pers. comm.).



References and further reading

Biology and ecology of Senecio glastifolius and its spread and impacts in New Zealand by P.A. Williams et al. (DOC, Science for Conservation 112)

This page last updated on 27 Sep 2016