Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Astereae
Genus: Pleurophyllum
Species: P. speciosum
Binomial name: Pleurophyllum speciosum
Common names: Campbell Island daisy
Pleurophyllum speciosum is a megaherb native to the Auckland and Campbell Islands of New Zealand. It appears to be closely related to the Cineraria daisies of Africa and the Canary Islands.
It forms an enormous rosette, up to 1.2 metres across, of huge, broad, corrugated, fleshy, 25 centimetres long, hairy leaves. The genus name Pleurophyllum is from the Greek words pleuro- (rib, side) and phyllo- (leaf) components meaning 'ribbed-leaved'.
During December-February it bears pinkish-purple to pale lilac flowers with maroon centres, held on flower stems up to 60 centimetres tall. Fruiting is from January to May.
Pleurophyllum speciosum (Campbell Island daisy)
Photo below courtesy of Tamzin Henderson @ https://www.tamzinnz.com/
Campbell Island daisy flowers are depicted on the reverse of the current five dollar New Zealand banknote.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
