Senecio johnstonii (giant groundsel) at Horombo huts.
Senecio keniodendron or Giant Groundsel is a species of the genus Senecio of the large family Asteraceae and is one of the three species of giant groundsels endemic to the high altitudes of the Afrotropic.
Senecio johnstonii (Senecio battiscombei) found on Mount Kilimanjaro, Senecio keniensis occupies the lower alpine zone of Mount Kenya.
The giant plants, sometimes 6-10 metres tall, grow in even-aged and even-sized stands and dominate the communities they live in.They can be found growing at altitudes between 3,900 metres (13,000 ft) and 4,500 metres (15,000 ft).
They continuously develop green leaves on the top, but don't loose those dry ones. Dry leaves stay on the stem and make an insulation, so at night, when temperature goes down below the freezing poit, the sap inside the stem don't get frozen. Kind of natural thermos :)