3iS Transactions. — Botany. 



Art. XLIX. — DescrijHlon of a new Sjyecies of Senecio. 

 By TuoMAS F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 



\Read before the Auckland Institute, 29th June, 1874,] 



In tlie spring of 18GS, while journeying up the course of the Kaueranga 

 River, at the Thames Gokl-fiekls, I observed in several localities a -white-rayed 

 Senecio, evidently differing in a marked degree from any known species. 

 Unfortunately, the sj)ecimens collected on this occasion were accidentally lost 

 before I had an opportunity of carefully examining them ; and although 

 I revisited the locality in 1870, it was at too advanced a period of the year to 

 procure flowei*s. Last year, however, I w^as fortunate enough to again find the 

 plant, not only in the district where I originally discovered it, but also in 

 other portions of the gold-field. It may thus be desciibed : — 



Senecio myrianthos, n. sp. A slender sparingly branched shrub or small 

 tree, with purplish black bark. Young leaves and branches covered with a 

 thin buff tomentum. Leaves four to five inches long, membranous, ovate or 

 ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, generally unequal at the base, sharply 

 and coarsely doubly serrate, when adult glabrous above, but covered beneath 

 with a thin silvery-w^hite closely appressed tomentum. Primary veins few, 

 conspicuous on both surfaces, forming large areoles. Petioles one to two inches 

 long. Panicles terminal, leafy, large, often over two feet long, but narrow for 

 the length ; peduncles and pedicels slender, with a short and thick covering of 

 purplish brown glandular hairs. Ultimate bracts narrow subulate, or almost 

 filiform. Heads numerous, campanulate, \ inch long. Scales of the involucre 

 about eight, scarious, linear obtuse, glabrous or nearly so. Ray florets four 

 to six, ligules broad, very short, not -^ of an inch, white ; disc florets about 

 the same number, campanulate above the middle, five-toothed. Stigmas 

 exserted ; anthers slightly tailed. Pappus hairs in a single series, white, 

 prominently denticulate, slightly thickened at the apex. Ripe achenia not 

 seen. 



Habitat. — Kaueranga River, Karaka, Tararu, and Puru Creeks ; and 

 other localities at the Thames. It is probably not uncommon throughout the 

 Cape Colville peninsula. 



A most charming i)lant, covered when in bloom with large panicles of 

 deliciously sweet-scented white flowere. From the other species of Senecioy 

 native to New Zealand, it can easily be distinguished by the slender habit ; 

 thin, membranous leaves ; the peculiar indumentum on the branches of the 

 inflorescence ; the scarious, nearly glabrous scales of the involucre ; and the 

 short ligules to the ray florets. The beauty of the flowers will doubtless 

 obtain it a place in both Colonial and European gardens. 



