Olearia avicenniifolia

Olearia avicenniifolia, known commonly as mountain akeake, is a flowering plant in the aster family.[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]

Olearia avicenniifolia
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.
Aster avicenniifolius Kuntze
Eurybia avicenniifolia Hook.f.
Shawia avicenniifolia Raoul

Description

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]

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1946 by Raoul as Shawia avicenniifolia[9] and transferred to the Olearia genus by Joseph Hooker in 1864.[1][2]

References
  1. "Olearia avicenniifolia | New Zealand Plant Conservation Network". www.nzpcn.org.nz. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  2. Hooker, J.D. (1864). Handbook of the New Zealand Flora. p. 127.
  3. "Olearia avicenniifolia Hook.f. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. "T.E.R:R.A.I.N – Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network – Olearia avicenniifolia (Mountain akeake)". www.terrain.net.nz. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. De Lange, Peter J. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. Rolfe, Jeremy R., Champion, Paul D., Courtney, Shannel, Heenan, Peter B., Barkla, John W., Cameron, E. K. Wellington, New Zealand. ISBN 9780478149951. OCLC 882945164.
  6. "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Olearia avicenniifolia". www.nzflora.info. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  7. "Olearia avicenniaefolia – Mountain Ake Ake | Southern Woods". Southern Woods. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. "Flora of New Zealand: Taxa". floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  9. Raoul, E.F.L. (1846). Choix de plantes de la Nouvelle-Zelande. p. 19 t. 13.
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