Phil Bendle Collection:Pleurophyllum criniferum (Giant button daisy)

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Genus: Pleurophyllum
Species: P. criniferum
Binomial name: Pleurophyllum criniferum
Synonyms: Pleurophyllum hombronii, Albinia oresigenesa
Common name: Giant button daisy, Herb daisy

Pleurophyllum criniferum is a species of flowering, herbaceous plant in the daisy family. It is endemic to New Zealand’s subantarctic Islands of Auckland, Campbell and Antipodes. It occurs from the coast up into the island ranges on peaty ground in herbfields.
Pleurophyllum criniferum is a large perennial herb, growing up to 2 m in height. The thin, shallow ribbed leaves may grow to a metre or more in length and are diverse in shape, though usually oblong-ovate to lanceolate. The undersides are covered by silky white hairs. The leaves are arranged singly along the stem. Because of the unusual size of the leaves, such plants are commonly referred to as megaherbs. 
The flowers occur as 15–30 heads in elongated racemes with short and inconspicuous ray-florets and dark purple disk-florets. The plant flowers from December to February and it seeds from January to May.

The flowers of Pleurophyllum criniferum are a deep purple whilst Pleurophyllum hookeri flowers are crimson.
Natural hybrids between these species have been recorded.

Photographed from the Col Lyall Boardwalk (180m) on Campbell Island . Pleurophyllum criniferum is flowering; the adjacent plants are Bulbinella rossii. 

 

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information

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