Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/413

Senecio.] membranous, rather succulent, 2–5 in. long, lower narrowed into a petiole, upper sessile with broad amplexicaul auricles, deeply and irregularly pinnatifid; segments few, 1–2 in. long, acute, toothed or lobed or almost pinnatifid, glabrous above, mealy-tomentose beneath. Corymbs terminal; peduncles slender, bracteate. Heads numerous, discoid, ⅓–½ in. diam.; involucre broad, campanulate; bracts about 20, in 1 series, linear-lanceolate, acute, 2-ribbed, margins scarious. Florets all hermaphrodite, very numerous, funnel-shaped. Achenes linear-oblong, grooved, glabrous or minutely puberulous.

7. S. lautus, Forst. Prodr. n. 538.—An exceedingly variable much or sparingly branched glabrous or pubescent annual or biennial herb 6–24 in. high; stems stout or slender, erect or decumbent or almost prostrate, grooved, flexuose. Leaves 1–2 in. long, linear or linear-lanceolate, more rarely broader and lanceolate or linear-oblong to oblong, either narrowed into a petiole or dilated with stem-clasping auricles at the base, entire or remotely toothed or lobed or pinnatifid; lobes narrow or broad. Heads in few- or many-flowered corymbs, ⅓–¾ in. diam., campanulate; involucral bracts herbaceous, Imear, acute, pubescent at the tips, usually prominently 2-ribbed; outer bracts few, small. Ray-florets 10–15, with spreading or revolute ligules, rarely absent. Disc-florets numerous, scarcely longer than the involucre. Achenes linear, grooved, pubescent or nearly glabrous. Pappus-hairs copious, soft, white.—''A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 257; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 457; Raoul, Choix, 45; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 145; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 160; Benth. Fl. Austral.'' iii. 667; Kirk, Students' Fl. 341. S. neglectus, ''A. Rich. l.c.'' 258. S. angustifolius, ''Forst. Prodr.'' n. 539.

Abundant near the sea, not so common inland. Sea-level to 4500ft. October–March.

This is a widely diffused plant in Australia and Tasmania as well as New Zealand, and is everywhere exceedingly variable, not a few forms having been described as distinct species. The chief varieties found in New Zealand may be briefly characterized as follows, but it must be borne in mind that intermediates are not uncommon:—

Var. a.—Much branched, erect or decumbent. Leaves deeply pinnatifid; segments long and narrow, often again toothed, rarely short and broad. Heads ⅓–½ in. diam., radiate.—Usually near the coast, but occasionally found inland. Mr. Kirk's variety carnosulus is probably a form of this.

Var. montanus.—Sparingly branched or quite simple, erect. Leaves oblong to lanceolate or spathulate, entire or toothed or shortly pinnatifid. Heads ½–¾ in. diam., radiate; rays often revolute.—A common mountain plant in both the North and South Islands.