#tree-daisy

[drhoz]

#2358 - Olearia arborescens - Common Tree Daisy

AKA Glossy Tree Daisy, Solidago arborescens, Olearia nitida, Olearia erythropappa, Olearia multiflora, Olearia populifolia, and Olearia suborbiculata. Most of those synonyms are the work of William Colenso, who I've mentioned before. Apparently one method he used when out exploring and botanizing was stuffing botanical specimens down the front of his shirt while on the move. I can't say I blame him - If I'd actually stopped to properly record every new plant I saw just in that first photo I'd have been there for an hour.

A common shrub or small tree in lowland to alpine scrubland on North, South and Stewart Islands.

Olearia are found in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand and includes herbaceous plants, shrubs and small trees. The latter is quite an unusual growth form for the daisy family. Over 100 of the 180-odd species are endemic to Australia, although molecular evidence strongly suggests the genus should be broken up. The composite flowerheads may be white, pink, mauve or purple.

Whakapapa Village, North Island Volcanic Plateau, New Zealand

[drhoz]

#2832 - Olearia avicenniifolia - Mangrove-leaved Daisy-Bush

And another Tree Daisy! This one had an ID plaque claiming it was Coastal Tree-daisy, (O. solandri) but that species (collected by Banks and Solander on Captain Cook's first voyage) doesn't grow this far south and doesn't remotely resemble it - for one things the leaves of avicenniifolia are 10 to 30 times the size, and really do look like the leaves of a mangrove. AKA Shawia avicenniifolia, and mountain akeake, despite not growing above 900m.

Occurs over much of the South Island, Stewart Island, and the southern end of the North Island, growing up to 6m in height.

OPERA, Otago Peninsula, Aotearoa NEw Zealand.