PLATE 114.—SENECIO BIDWILLII. 
Famity COMPOSIT &. | [Genus SENECIO, Linn. 
Senecio Bidwillii, Hook. /. Fl. Nov. Zel. i, 150; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 383. 
Senecio Bidwilliz commemorates the name of Mr. J. T. Bidwill, who in the years 
1839 and 1842 made two visits to New Zealand for the purpose of studying its 
vegetation, and who was the first European to ascend Ngauruhoe and to examine 
the flora of the volcanic plateau on which it stands. He was the discoverer of 
several most interesting plants, as Veronica tetragona, Dracophyllum recurvum, 
Dacrydium laxifolium, and the subject of the present plate. His collections. made 
at a time when botanists were altogether ignorant of the mountain-flora of New 
Zealand, naturally attracted considerable attention. 
The next botanist to observe S. Bidwillii was Mr. Colenso, who in 1845 ascended 
the Ruahine Range, and in 1847 travelled from Taupo along the eastern flanks of 
Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu, returning to Napier across the Ruahine Range. 
In all these localities he found the plant to be abundant; and he also gathered it 
on the summit of Mount Hikurangi, in the East Cape district, which appears to be 
its northern limit. Subsequent collectors all agree in stating that it is an abundant 
subalpine plant on the higher mountain-ranges of the North Island as far south as 
Mount Hector, at the southern end of the Tararua Range. In the South Island a 
slightly different variety, with a somewhat taller and more slender habit, rather 
larger and narrower and less coriaceous leaves, and broader corymbs, is not 
uncommon on the mountains of Nelson, Marlborough, Westland, and Canterbury 
as far south as the Rangitata Valley. The altitudinal range of the species can 
be given as from 2,500 ft. to 5,000 ft. 
Senecio Bidwillii is one of the chief components of the subalpine “ scrub ” on 
the slopes of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. It is usually associated with 
Dracophyllum recurvum and D. subulatum, Epacris alpina, Veronica tetragona, Pimelea 
buxifolia, Olearia nummularifolia, Dacrydium Bidwillii, and Phyllocladus alpinus. Tt 
generally forms a stout much branched shrub from 2 ft. to 5 ft. in height, the branches 
being often gnarled and twisted, and usually bare of leaves except towards the tips. 
The leaves are excessively thick and coriaceous, and while pretty constant in outline, 
vary much in size; specimens growing in very dry or exposed situations having 
leaves barely more than }in. in length, while in sheltered localities they may be 
quite 2in. The heads are about }in. in diameter, devoid of rays, pale yellowish- 
green, and conspicuously sweet-scented. 
The nearest ally to S. Bidwillii is no doubt S. ele@agnifolius, which agrees in 
the structure of the flower-heads and other characters, but which is easily separated 
by the larger size and more open habit, much larger and narrower leaves, and larger 
panicles. 
Puate 114. Senecio Bidwillii, drawn from specimens collected near the base of Ruapehu, at an 
altitude of 3,500 ft. Fig. 1, longitudinal section through involucre and receptacle (x 3); 2, female 
floret (x 4); 3, hermaphrodite floret (x 4); 4, pappus-hair (x 12); 5, anthers (x8); 6, style- 
branches (x 8). 
