5. B. Thomsoni, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 372, t. 27.—Rhizome stout, creeping, branched. Stems 3–12 in. long, stout, branched from the base, decumbent or ascending, densely glandular-pubescent, as are the leaves, scapes, and involucres. Leaves numerous, radical and cauline, 1–2 in. long, oblong- or obovate-spathulate, obtuse, narrowed into a very broad flat petiole, coarsely bluntly toothed or lobed or almost pinnatifid. Peduncles terminating the branches, 3–6 in. long or more, stout, somewhat rigid, naked or with a solitary linear bract. Heads about ½ in. diam.; involucral bracts oblong or oblong-ovate, obtuse, with purple tips. Ray-florets usually numerous, but sometimes wanting in reduced states; rays white, spreading. Achenes linear-clavate, densely glandular-pubescent; margins thickened. Pappus of minute bristly scales.—Students' Fl. 260.
Var. membranifolia, Kirk, l.c. 261.—More slender and less branched, and not so glandular. Leaves 1–3 in. long, membranous; petioles longer and more slender.
Var. polita, Cheesem.—Usually glabrous, except the peduncles. Stems very slender, simple or sparingly branched, leafy at the base. Leaves 1–3 in., very thin and membranous. Heads rather smaller.—B. polita, Kirk, Students' Fl. 261.
South Island: Otago—Cape Whanbrow, Kirk! Petrie! near Green Island, Petrie. Stewart Island: Common on the coast, G. M. Thomson! Petrie! Kirk! Var. membranifolia: Mount Arthur Plateau, Nelson, T. F. C. Var. polita: Arthur's Pass, Kirk! Cockayne! Sea-level to 4000ft. December–January.
A very variable plant, only separated from B. odorata by the much larger size and coarser habit and larger heads. It has the same strong fragrance.
4. OLEARIA, Mœnch.
Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate, rarely opposite or fascicled, usually with white or buff tomentum beneath. Heads large or small, solitary or corymbose or paniculate, radiate or rarely discoid. Involucre broad or narrow; bracts imbricated in several rows, margins dry or scarious. Receptacle flat or convex, pitted. Florets few or many, rarely solitary; ray-florets female, in a single row, usually ligulate, spreading, rarely slender and filiform or altogether wanting; disc-florets hermaphrodite, tubular, 5-lobed. Anthers often acute at the base or with minute tails, rarely obtuse. Style-branches flattened, with short obtuse or rarely lanceolate appendages. Pappus of one or more rows of unequal scabrid bristles, often thickened at the tips. Achenes ribbed or striate, terete or slightly compressed.
In addition to the 35 species found in New Zealand, all of which are endemic, there are about 70 others, confined to Australia and Tasmania with the exception of 2 recorded from Lord Howe's Island. The genus is very closely allied to Aster, with which the late Baron von Mueller proposed to unite it, together with Celmisia and several other genera.
