Dolichoglottis is a small genus of two herbaceous, daisy-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae (order Asterales), endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Both species — Dolichoglottis lyallii (Hook.f.) B.Nord. and Dolichoglottis scorzoneroides (Hook.f.) B.Nord. — belong to the structural class of dicotyledonous composite herbs and were formerly placed in the large genus Senecio before being segregated by B. Nordenstam. They grow in alpine and subalpine environments and are sometimes called "snow marguerites": D. lyallii bears yellow flower heads and occurs on both the South and Stewart Islands, while D. scorzoneroides bears white-and-yellow flower heads and is restricted to the South Island. Both species produce pappate cypselae (feathery-tufted achenes) that are dispersed by wind. The genus is an endemic New Zealand lineage; neither species is commercially available, and propagation from the wild is considered difficult and discouraged.
Etymology
The genus name Dolichoglottis derives from Greek, meaning "long-tongue," in reference to the elongated ray florets of the flower heads. D. lyallii commemorates David Lyall (1817–1895), a Scottish naturalist and Royal Navy surgeon who explored Antarctica, New Zealand, the Arctic, and North America, and was a lifelong friend of Sir Joseph Hooker. D. scorzoneroides means "resembling a scorzonera or aster."
Distribution
Both species are endemic to New Zealand: D. lyallii is found on the South Island and Stewart Island, while D. scorzoneroides is restricted to the South Island. Both are classified as nationally Not Threatened under the 2023 New Zealand Threat Classification System, though D. scorzoneroides is considered Regionally At Risk – Declining in Otago as of 2025.
Ecology
Both species grow as alpine herbs with wind-dispersed seeds; their pappate cypselae (feathery achenes) are carried by wind currents across high-elevation terrain. Neither species is commercially cultivated, and both are considered difficult to propagate; they should not be removed from the wild.
Taxonomy Notes
Dolichoglottis was segregated from Senecio by B. Nordenstam. D. lyallii was originally described as Senecio lyallii Hook.f., and D. scorzoneroides as Senecio scorzoneroides Hook.f. (also known as Senecio lyallii var. scorzoneroides (Hook.f.) Kirk). Both species share a chromosome number of 2n = 60. The genus is an endemic New Zealand lineage within Asteraceae.
