Plates 28–29.

Senecio southlandicus is a herb of tussock-grassland in the South Otago Botanical District, and S. Hectori is a large shrub of the forest in the North-western South Island Botanical District. The two therefore do not meet in nature, and considering their great disparity in habitat requirements and growth-forms one would hardly have expected that they would hybridize when brought together. But two Senecio plants that appeared spontaneously at Fern Tree House, Dunedin, show clearly by their characters that they arose from the crossing of the two species mentioned. In this garden plants of S. southlandicus were growing on a rockery in close proximity to a shrubbery containing a large specimen of S. Hectori. In 1915 there appeared under S. Hectori seedlings that were clearly referable to Senecio, but of a form hitherto unknown. One of these was transplanted to a dry place, the other into a rather damp, shady spot. As they grew up both showed an intermingling of the characters of the two parents, though this was more marked in the plant in the shady position. It is this plant that is here further described.

The plant is now (May, 1928) some 71 cm. tall, and is of bushy habit. From a main stem 23 cm. high and 25 mm. diam. are given off a number of more or less decumbent branches, semi-woody towards the bases, and clothed with rather large leaves. These bear at the bases of the blades pinnules showing the presence of Hectori blood. The inflorescences are intermediate in degree of development between those of the two parents. Seed is set, but so far we have failed to germinate any. The plant grows readily from cuttings, and we have established several for further observation and report. It is obvious that the occurrence of hybrids between such dissimilar parents is of considerable importance. Further details are given in the following table: