COMPOSITE 433 



Gnaphalium germanicum y Willdenow 



Recorded by W. W. Smith in 1903 as occurring in Ashburton 

 County. I do not know the species. 



Stuartina Melleri, Sond. 



In the Manual (1906) reported on the authority of J. H. Macmahon 

 as occurring in sandy places near the mouth of the Awatere River, 

 Marlborough. 



Senecio vulgaris, Linn. Groundsel 



This weed must have been introduced at a very early date of 

 settlement, but is first recorded by the author from Otago in 1874, 

 and then by Cheeseman in 1882 from the Auckland district. It is 

 one of the most abundant weeds of cultivation in every part of New 

 Zealand. Like most other herbaceous species of Senecio its foliage 

 is frequently attacked by the larvae ofNyctemera annulata, the common 

 magpie moth. (Fl., all the year round.) 



When the fruit is moistened, special hairs on the outside excrete 

 an adhesive mucilage. This is, probably, to cement them to the soil, 

 but it may also aid in distribution by causing them to adhere to the 

 feathers of birds. 



Senecio sylvaticus, Linn. 



First recorded from Wellington in 1877 by Kirk, then by Cheese- 

 man in 1882 from the Auckland district. In 1890 the author found 

 it in one locality near Dunedin. In the Manual (1906) it is said to 

 be abundant throughout both islands, which is hardly correct, for 

 it is certainly rare in Otago and Southland. (FL, Jan. to April.) 



Senecio jacobcea, Linn. Ragwort 



I cannot find any earlier record of this weed than 1874, wnen I 

 found it growing near Dunedin, but it rapidly increased, especially 

 in Southland, and in parts of Auckland, Wellington and Taranaki. 

 Where sheep are regularly grazed it is unable to make headway, but 

 it is particularly troublesome in pastures only fed on by cattle and 

 horses. It is now to be found more or less in every provincial district 

 in New Zealand. 



It was declared a noxious weed in the Second (optional) Schedule 

 of the Act of 1900, but was placed in the First Schedule in the Act 

 of 1908. 



Since about 1880 a disease, which began in the neighbourhood 

 of Winton in the Oreti Valley (and consequently came to be known 

 as "Winton disease") has proved fatal to horses, and has caused very 

 considerable mortality. It also occasionally affects cattle and sheep. 



T. N. Z. 28 



