Senecio pokohinuensis was first described as a subspecies of Senecio repangae by Peter de Lange and Brian Grant Murray in 1998.[3] The holotype of the species was collected in 1993 by de Lange from Burgess Island in the Mokohinau Islands group, and was found in short grass on a cliffside.[3]
In 2022, de Lange elevated S. pokohinuensis to species level, due to genetic evidence showing that S. repangae and S. pokohinuensis had distinct origins. Both species were hybrids between the Lautusoid and Disciform groups within Senecio, however the hybridisation events were different, and likely involved different species.[4]
Description
S. pokohinuensis is an annual or perennial herb that rises to a height of 0.2–1.2 m (7.9 in – 3 ft 11.2 in). The plant is a dull green, with yellow flowers.[2] The species can be distinguished from Senecio repangae due to differing leaf surfaces, by having shorter capitula bracts, and because the ray florets of S. pokohinuensis are evenly spaced and not recurved.[3] The species epithet comes from the Ngāti Rehua name for Burgess Island, Pokohinu.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Mokohinau Islands in the Auckland Region of New Zealand.[4][5]S. pokohinuensis is one of the few plants endemic to the Auckland Region.[6] The plant is commonly found in association with petrel breeding grounds.[4]
^ abcde Lange, Peter J.; Pelser, Pieter B.; Liew, Chia-Sin; Marshall, Andrew J. (27 June 2022). "Senecio pokohinuensis (Asteraceae), a new combination for an endemic species of Mokohinau Islands, Hauraki Gulf (Tikapa Moana o Hauraki), northern Te Ika a Maui / North Island, Aotearoa / New Zealand". Ukrainian Botanical Journal. 79 (3): 125–129. doi:10.15407/UKRBOTJ79.125. ISSN0372-4123. WikidataQ130282567.
.jpg)
