Olearia avicenniifolia | |
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On Stewart Island | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Olearia |
Species: | O. avicenniifolia
|
Binomial name | |
Olearia avicenniifolia | |
Synonyms[3] | |
Aster avicenniifolia (Hook.f.) F.Muell. |
Olearia avicenniifolia, known commonly as mountain akeake, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.[1] It is endemic to New Zealand where it is found on the southern coastlines of the South Island and on Stewart Island.[4] It is classified as Not Threatened.[5]
Mountain akeake is a small, bushy shrub or tree that grows up to 6 metres tall[6] and 3 metres wide.[4] It has thin, papery bark[7] and angular branchlets covered in white tomentum.[6] Leaves are oblong-lanceolate in shape.[6] They are dark green in colour with a downy, white underside.[1] Leaf length varies between 5–10 cm long and 3–5 cm wide.[8]
Flowers are clustered and daisy-like with white rays and purple central disks. They emerge between November and February and have a sweet scent.[4][6] Flowers are about 5 centimetres wide and carried in clusters of three to ten.[4] The flowers develop into fluffy seeds.[1]
It was first described in 1846 by Raoul as Shawia avicenniifolia[9] and transferred to the Olearia genus by Joseph Hooker in 1864.[1][2]