Species

Olearia cheesemanii

Etymology

Olearia: Derived from the latinised name (Olearius) of the 17th century German botanist Adam Oelenschlager
cheesemanii: Named after Thomas Frederick Cheeseman (1846 - 15 October 1923) who was a New Zealand botanist and naturalist who, in 1906, produced The Manual of the New Zealand Flora.

Common Name(s)

Streamside tree daisy, Cheesemans Tree Daisy

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Gradual Decline

Qualifiers

2012 - Sp
2009 - DP

Authority

Olearia cheesemanii Cockayne et Allan

Family

Asteraceae

Brief Description

Bushy shrub bearing narrow pointed thin leathery dark green leaves that have an uneven edge inhabiting lowland stream margins. Twigs with a groove along the upper side. Leaves 5-9cm long by 2-3cm wide. Flowers white, in a loose cluster, body nearly 1cm long.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

OLECHE

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Olearia nitida var. angustifolia Cheeseman, O. arborescens var. angustifolia Cheesema

Distribution

Endemic to the North and South Islands. In the North Island known from the Ohinemuri River south to the Tararua Ranges. In the South Island confined to North West Nelson and the vicinity of Westport near Ngakawau.

Habitat

Rocky river gorges in or near the flood zone.

Features

Shrub or small tree 0.1-1(-4) m tall. Sparingly to heavily branched depending on growing situation, bark grey, flaking in long strips. Branchlets grooved, densely covered in buff tomentum. Petioles stout, winged, finely tomentose, up to 20 mm long. Leaves (40-)50-90 x 20-30 mm, variable in shape with all types potentially present on the one individual, usually linear to narrow-lanceolate, or oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous, margins sinuate or irregularly but distinctly toothed, apex subacuminate dark green to grey-green above, undersides clad in fine, appressed, silky-hairy, white to pale buff hairs, these darkening markedly along veins and midrib. Inflorescence a lax, much-branched corymb up to 150 mm diam. Capitula 8-9 mm, phyllaries linear-lanceolate, 3-4 mm, ciliolate, ray florets 6-10(-20), narrow, white. Seed a linear finely grooved achene 2-3 mm, pappus-hairs fine, sordid-white, unequal, up to 5 mm long.

Similar Taxa

Most likely to be confused with the allied O. arborescens from which it mainly differs by its narrower lanceolate leaves, usually smaller stature (in the wild at least), and habitat preferences.

Flowering

August - January

Flower Colours

White,Yellow

Fruiting

November - June

Propagation Technique

Easy from semi-hardwood cuttings and fresh seed. A very fast growing and attractive floriferous shrub. Tends to be short-lived. Does best in moist soils in sun or semi-shade.

Threats

Threatened by weeds such as mistflower and buddleia that invade and smother the gorge side habitat of O. cheesemanii. Surveys of northern sites indicated a population structure skewed toward senescent adults, with few juveniles and seedlings persisting due to competition from these and other smaller weed species. River conversion for hydroelectric schemes may also be a threat. Dams disrupt natural flood cycles that help create new habitat and dislodge weeds. Accurate figures on decline are not available, and the exact species distribution is unknown. It would seem this species has its strong holds in northern South Island. Further survey is likely to reveal new populations, especially in the Kaimai Ranges, Mamaku Plateau, Raukumara, Te Urewera, Ruahine and Tararua Ranges.

Chromosome No.

2n = 108

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Commonly sold by most commercial nurseries.

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for the NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2006. Description adapted from Allan (1961) - supplemented with observations made from fresh specimens.

References and further reading

Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Government Printer, Wellington.

This page last updated on 7 May 2014