Olearia ilicifolia is a shrub or small tree endemic to New Zealand. Common names include Māori-holly,[1] mountain holly, hakeke or hākēkeke and New Zealand holly. It is a spreading shrub or small tree of the family Asteraceae, and has largely serrated and undulating grey-green leaves. It is closely related to the sub-alpine Olearia macrodonta, with which it shares the names mountain holly and New Zealand holly, however it is much more common than Olearia macrodonta. It is found in lowland and sub-alpine forests from sea level to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft).
| Olearia ilicifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Olearia |
| Species: | O. ilicifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Olearia ilicifolia | |
Description
editMountain holly is a much-branching, spreading shrub to small tree that grows 1.5–4.6 metres (4 ft 11 in – 15 ft 1 in) tall. Its leaves are 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long, 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) wide, with undulating and coarsely serrated margins, greyish green above. Its flowers are white with yellow centres and grow in large terminal corymbs.[2]
Parasites
editThe larvae of the New Zealand endemic moth species Stigmella erysibodea mines the leaves of O. ilicifolia.[3]
References
edit
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ Metcalf, L. J. (2000). New Zealand Trees & Shrubs; A Comprehensive Guide to Cultivation and Identification. Raupo Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7900-0662-8.
- ^ "Stigmella erysibodea Donner & Wilkinson, 1989". plant-synz.landcareresearch.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 2018-07-12.