Art. XLV.—Notice of a New Species of Senecio, (S. hectori). By John Buchanan, of the Geological Survey of New Zealand. [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 28th August, 1872.] A branched woody shrub-tree, 6 to 12 feet high; stem 4 to 6 inches diameter; branches robust, erect. Leaves sessile, 12 to 18 inches long, ovate-acuminate or ovate-lanceolate, tapering to both ends, 1/10 of leaf at base pinnatisect, dentate with bristle points, membranous, upper surface scabrous, under surface thinly tomentose, white; veins distinct on both sides. Corymbs lax, large, terminal; lower bracts foliaceous, upper numerous, linear, very narrow; peduncles and pedicels very narrow, slender, glandularpubescent. Involucre broad, campanulate, scales of one series, broadly linear, acute, tips brown, thick, with membranous border, glandular-pubescent.
Receptacle flat; alveola with scarious margins. Heads 1 ½ to .2 inches across; florets of the ray white, very narrow, ½ inch long; anthers tailed; pappus of one equal series of rigid, scabrous, white hairs, slightly thickened at the tips. Achene glabrous, narrow, linear, flattened and grooved. This remarkable addition to the flora of New Zealand was collected by Dr. Hector on the Buller River, Nelson province, in January, 1872. The magnificent floral display of this species, and others such as Senecio glastifolius with similar white rayed flowers, can only be seen to advantage in their natural humid habitats, and it is doubtful if any cultivation short of shelter under glass will be successful in rearing them in gardens. Grows along the banks of the Buller River, and in rich bottom shrubberies between the River Mangles and the Inangahua; not observed in the lower gorge, nor near the sea. Also collected by Dr. Hector inland from Collingwood, and reported by Mr. W. T. L. Travers as occurring at Wangapeka and a few other localities in the Nelson province, where he collected specimens many years ago.
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Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 5, 1872, Page 348
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304Art. XLV.—Notice of a New Species of Senecio, (S. hectori). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 5, 1872, Page 348
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