The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Hi All, I found this plant on the cliffs to on the North side of Tolaga Bay, Gisborne. I've had a look but it has me stumped. Photo is taken looking straight up. Substrate is papa. Any ideas appreciated.

Hi Malcolm, that is Senecio banksii see http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1299, but the photo is not a good one. This species is widespread on coastal and inland papa cliffs from East Cape to Hawkes Bay

Thanks Mike. I'd dismissed S. banksii due to the more purplish leaves, and I couldnt see the leaf margins clearly, but it makes sense. Thanks.

Further south there is S. colensoi, but that usually occurs on more calcareous cliffs, has softer leaves and has a fluffy underside to the leaf. Leaf colour is not the best character to use for identifying Senecio - S. banksii usually has purple leaf undersides

Just confirming that this is Senecio banksii - and a nice image of it too. While Flora IV (Webb et al. 1988) treat Senecio colensoi as a synonym of S. colensoi I really don't agree - the two are allied certainly but as Mike points out the leaves of S. colensoi are hairy (covered in white cob-webbed hairs) and there are other differences in the inflorescences, capitula etc. What I don't agree with though is the comment from Mike that Senecio colensoi is 'usually found on calcareous cliffs'. It is a cliff dwelling species but it is equally abundant on rhyolite and ignimbrite as well as limestone, calcareous mudstones, siltstones and sandstones. Also Senecio banksii whilst usually on calcareous rocks also occurs on Tuhua (Mayor Island) where it is found commonly on rhyolite and peralkaline rocks.

Thanks for the additional info Peter. I wasn't aware of them occurring on those other substrates.

Webb merged S. colensoi into S. banksii on the basis of intermediate plants occurring in NW Ruahine. I've not been there or seen specimens but it does seem a minor reason for merging 2 amply distinct species

Thanks for all the info Mike and Peter. Much Appreciated.