Mountain flower confused with ragwort

Well-meaning weeders are mistakenly ripping out a relative of the ragwort plant on the slopes of Mt Taranaki, Department of Conservation staff say.

A variety of senecio grows on the side of the road leading to the North Egmont Visitor Centre and its yellow flowers are often confused with that of its invasive cousin, ragwort.

DOC ranger Kaye Coe said yesterday the variety of senecio growing on the mountain was no longer common and was certainly not a noxious weed, like ragwort.

"I'm not sure if it's classed as rare yet, but it's not common," she said.

"There's a lot of it on the way to Dawson Falls and some days you see so much of it thrown on the road.

"People think they're doing a good thing by ripping out some ragwort, but it's not the same plant."

The mountain senecio had broader leaves than ragwort.

If there was any doubt, plants inside Egmont National Park should be left for DOC to deal with, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News