Asteraceae   (Compositae)

This is the largest and most diverse family of dicotyledonous plants, with about 1500 genera and 25000 species.  Herbs, shrubs or trees with alternate or opposite leaves and flowers heads (capitula) borne singly or clustered together.  It includes all daisies and some un-daisy-like plants with similar floral structures.  Flowers (florets) are very small but are crowded into heads (capitula), each superficially resembling a single flower and surrounded by special bracts (phyllaries).  A floret has a tubular corolla attached to the top of an ovary, and usually at the junction there is a ring (pappus) of long hairs or small scales representing the calyx.  Corollas are of two types, some radially symmetrical with long tube and four or five-short lobes, others deeply split down one side leaving a short tube and a long strap-shape ray (or ligule) that may be toothed across the top.  Florets of the first kind usually occupy the central part (disc) of the head and are mostly bisexual in form; the filaments of the four or five stamens are attached to the corolla bellow and are free above, but anthers are joined to form a tube into which pollen is shed.  The style passes up through the anther tube and then, if the floret is bisexually functional, divides into two arms on which the stigmatic surfaces are exposed.  The ray florets are often (as in Celmisa) form a petal-like circle round the disc florets; they usually lack stamens and some are neuter, but most have a well-developed style and two-lobed stigma and can set good seed.  Bisexual ligulae florets occupy the whole head in one tribe.  The fruit (achene), containing a single seed, is in many genera kept airborne during dispersal by a hairy pappus that acts like a parachute.

 

Of the 16 tribes defined by floral characters five are represented in New Zealand’s approximately 33 genera.  There are about 287 indigenous species in New Zealand, and approximately 261 are endemic.   Examples of important genera with native species: Olearia, Celmisia, Ozothamnus (Cassinia), Brachyglottis, Senecio, Anaphalioides (Gnaphalium/Anapalis & Helichrysum bellidoides), Craspedia, important exotic genera: Lactuca (lettuce), Helianthus (sunflower, artichoke), Dahlia, Chrysanthemum, Aster, Bellis, Callendula, Pyrethrum, Achillea.

 

This is a morphologically complex and taxonomically complicated family with many tribes and genera having recently undergone or currently undergoing revision.  Since publication many of the native genera and species listed in ‘The Flora of New Zealand’ have been revised or changed.  Part of the text on this page has been modified from Allan (1961).

 

 

Keys

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

Webb, C.J., W.R. Sykes & P.J. Garnock-Jones 1988: Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV, DSIR Wellington.

 

References

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

Bretiwieser, I., D.S. Glenny, A. Thorne, & S.J. Wagstaff 1999: Phylogenetic relationships of the Australasian Gnaphalieae (Composite) inferred from ITS sequences.  New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 399-412.

Poole, A. L. & N. M. Adams 1994: Trees and shrubs of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington.

Wagstaff, S.J. & I. Breitwieser 2002: Phylogenetic relationships of New Zealand Asteraceae inferred from ITS sequences.  Plant Systematics and Evolution 321: 203-224.

Ward, J.M. & I. Breitwieser 1998: Systematics of the New Zealand Inuleae (Compositae –4 A taxonomic review.  New Zealand Journal of Botany 36 (2): 165-171

Webb, C.J., W.R. Sykes & P.J. Garnock-Jones 1988: Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV, DSIR Wellington.

Webb, C.J., P.N. Johnson & W.R. Sykes 1990: Flowering Plants of New Zealand. DSIR Botany Division, Christchurch.

Wilson, T. & T. Galloway 1993: Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch

 

 

 

Olearia

Shrubs or trees with alternate, rarely opposite or fascicled leaves, usually with white or buff tomentum on the underside.  Capitula small to large, solitary or compound of various types.  Florets few or many, ray florets, if present, pistilate, ligulate, disk florets perfect, tubular and five lobed.  Achenes ribbed or striarte, pappus of unequal barbellate bristles, often thickened at tips.  About 130 species found in New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea and Lord Howe Is.  Approximately 38 endemic species in New Zealand.  Commonly known as tree daisies.  There is some doubt over the generic delimitations within Olearia and relationships to closely related genera. 

 

Synopsis of New Zealand Olearia

I.  Leaves Alternate

  1. Capitula solitary
    1. Large capitula large with conspicuous ray-florets, leaves large e.g., O. semidentata, O. chathamica.
    2. Small capitula with inconspicuous ray-florets, leaves small e.g., O. nummulariifolia.
  2. Capitula racemed, large, without ray florets; leaves large e.g., O. colensoi.
  3. Capitula corymbosely panicled,
    1. Florets solitary in capitulum e.g., O. paniculata.
    2. Florets few to many in capitulum

                                                              I.      Florets not > than six per capitulum

                                                           II.      Florets > then six per capitulum e.g., O. albida.

a.       Leaves of linear order, with strong lateral veins at right angles to midrib e.g., O. ilicifolia.

b.      Leaves not of linear order, lateral veins weaker, at obtuse or acute angle to midrib

                                                                                                         i.            Tomentum soft, cobwebby, not lustrous e.g., O. rani.

                                                                                                       ii.            Tomentum thin, appressed, ± lustrous

a.     Phyllaries 35 or more e.g., O. pachphylla.

b.     Phyllaries much fewer

*     Leaves closely and very sharply toothed  e.g., O. macrodonta.

**      Leaves distinctly toothed or entire

                            Leaves < 1cm long e.g., O. capillaries.

¶¶     Leaves much > than 1cm long e.g., O. allomi, O. arborescens, O. cheesemanii, O. furfuracea, O. townsonii.

 

 

  1. Capitula fascicled e.g. O. fragrantissima.

 

II.  Leaves opposite

  1. Capitula large, panicled; leaves large e.g, O. traversii.
  2. Capitula small, fascicled or solitary; leaves small e.g., O. solandri.

 

 


Mass flowering Olearia semidentata shrub in a Chatham Island bog and close up on a single capitula showing the single row of conspicuous ray florets.

 

 


Olearia chathamica from the coastal cliffs of Chatham Island showing the distinctive toothed leathery leaves.

 

 


Olearia nummularifolia a subalpine shrub with small roundish (coin-shaped hence the specific name) leaves.

 

 



Olearia colensoi: habitat on Mt Arowhana and a close up on the serrated leaves.  The branchlets and undersides of the leaves are clad in dense white tomentum.

 

 


Olearia paniculata (akiraho) with distinctive undulate leaf margins and old corymb present.

 

 


Leaves of Olearia ilicifolia, characterised by the wavy margins with sharply serrated teeth and leaf margins which spread at right angles.

 

 


Flowers and foliage of Olearia rani.  A shrub or tree that can grow up to 7m tall, the leaves have widely dentate margins and the capitula are in large panicles.

 

 


Olearia pachphylla a threatened shrub with thick leaves (hence the specific name) from near Opotiki.

 

 


Flowers and foliage of Olearia macrodonta.  Although listed as a species in the Flora Vol. I this taxon is considered to be a wild hybrid between O. arborescens and O. ilicifolia. 

 

 


Olearia allomi from Great Barrier Island showing capitula grouped into a corymb.

 

 


Large, spreading inflorescences on an Olearia arborescens shrub.

 

 


Olearia cheesemanii with several corymbs aggregated to give a mass flowering display.

 

 


Small shrub of Olearia furfuracea (akepiro) and a close up on the flowers and foliage.

 

 


Olearia townsonii showing tomentum clad leaf underside.  O. townsonii and O. thomsonsii of Flora Vol I are now considered to be the same taxon.

 

 


Olearia solandri showing small leaves in fascicles and “wood flowers” or remnant bracts of last seasons capitula

 

 

 

Keys

New Zealand taxa

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

Small-leaved taxa

Wilson, T. & T. Galloway 1993: Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch.

Divaricating taxa

Heads, M. 1998: Biodiversity in the New Zealand divaricating tree daisies: Olearia sect.nov. (Compositae).  Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 127: 239-285.

 

 

References

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

Drury, D.G. 1968: A clarification of the generic limits of Olearia and Pterophyllum (Asteraceae-Compositae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 6: 459-466.

Given, D.R. 1973: Damnamenia gen. nov. a new subantarctic genus allied to Celmisia Cass. (Asteraceae-Compositae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 11: 785-796.

Heads, M. 1998: Biodiversity in the New Zealand divaricating tree daisies: Olearia sect.nov. (Compositae).  Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 127: 239-285.

Poole, A. L. & N. M. Adams 1994: Trees and shrubs of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington.

Wagstaff, S.J. & I. Breitwieser 2002: Phylogenetic relationships of New Zealand Asteraceae inferred from ITS sequences.  Plant Systematics and Evolution 321: 203-224.

Wilson, T. & T. Galloway 1993: Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch.

 

 

 

 

Celmisia

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, usually tufted or with a short creeping rhizome.  Leaves densly tufted or imbricate along branches, usually tomentose, at least on lower surface.  Lamina petioled or pass directly into a persistent sheath.  Capitula solitary on bracted scapes.  Ray florets usually in one row, numerous, usually while, disk florets perfect, numerous, corolla five toothed, yellow.  Achenes usually more or less narrow-cylindric and ribbed, pappus with numerous barbellate hairs.  Approximately 60 endemic species in New Zealand, also found in Australia (at least 5). A distinctive feature of the New Zealand alpine flora, therefore are known as mountain daisies.

 

 

Simplified Synopsis of New Zealand Celmisia

Note: since the publication of the Flora of New Zealand (Allan 1961) there has been extensive revision of the New Zealand Celmisia species.  This synopsis is based on the classification of Given (1969)

 

Subgenus Celmisia

Mat-forming, herbaceous shrubs that are often rhizomatous, linear lamina with a prominent single vein forming the midrib

Section Celmisia

Woody-based herbs, often rhizmatous.  Living leaves rosulate at tips of branchlets e.g., C. adamsii var. adamsii, C. major var. brevis.

Section Pulvintae

Woody cushion-forming subshrubs, living leaves imbricate along upper parts of branches e.g., C. sessiliflora.

Section Nanae

Lax woody cushion-forming subshrubs, living leaves imbricate along most of branchlets e.g., C. laricifolia

 

Subgenus Lignosae

Woody subshrubs with broad to ericoid lamina with one to several main veins

Section Lignosae

Often ericoid or prostrate subshrubs, leaf lamina short and linear, lacking marginal teeth, simple venation with prominent midrib e.g., C. ramulosa.

     Section Rosulatae

Usually prostrate subshrubs, living leaves in rosulate tufts near tips of branchlets, leaf lamina usually spathulate, rarely linear, margins toothed, veins arching from lamina base to apex e.g., C. incana.

     Section Serratae

Prostrate subshrubs, living leaves in rosulate tufts near tips of branchlets, leaf lamina spathulate to linear-spathulate, margins prominently toothed, veins arching from lamina base to apex e.g., C. holosericea.

 

Subgenus Glandulosae

Stoloniferous woody-based herbs, often rhizomatous, living leaves rosulate at tips of branchlets, a few imbricate along stolons. Leaf lamina spathulate, margins toothed, veins arching from lamina base to apex, hairs glandular e.g., C. glandulosa.

 

Subgenus Caespitosae

Soft woody creeping herbs forming a mat of rooting interlacing branchlets, living leaves distributed along branchlets e.g., C. bellidioides.

 

Subgenus Pelliculate

Tufted, woody-based herbs, living leaves rosulate near tips of branchlets, a pseudostem formed of closely imbricated sheaths enclosing shoot. Leaf lamina usually petiolate, with venation subparallel, sheath often purple pigmented. 

Section Pelliculatae

Leaf lamina rigid e.g. C. semicordata, C. munroi.

Section Petiolatae

Leaf lamina coriaceous or subcoriacous but not stiff e.g., C. spectabilis.

 

Subgenus Inopsis

Stoloniferous herbs with thick, woody basal stock. Living leaves forming rosettes at tips of branchlets and stolons, also along stolons, leaf lamina glossy, glabrous, venation simple, sheath pale e.g., C. vernicosa.

 

 


Celmisia adamsii var. adamsii growing on the Pinnacles above Kauaeranga Valley.

 

 


Celmisia major var. brevis a member of the C. gracilenta/C. graminifolia complex confined to Mt. Taranaki (Egmont).

 

 


Celmisia incana on Te Moehau showing the  distinctive silvery tomentum covered leaves.

 

 


Celmisia glandulosa showing the stoloniferous growth habit in an Oreobolis peetiratas cushionfield.

 

 


Celmisia semicordata the largest of the Celmisia showing broad strap like, tomentum backed leaves.

 

 


Celmisia munroi showing the broad capitula (ca. 6cm) with large decorative ray florets.

 

 


Celmisia spectablis.  The most widespread and versatile of the mountain daisies.  Close up on the capitula shows the disk florets and ray florets. 

 

 

 

Keys

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

 

 

References

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

Given, D.R. and Gray, M. 1986:  ‘Celmisia (Compositae-Astereae) in Australia and New Zealand’ in Flora and Fauna of Alpine Australasia: Ages and Origins. Ed. Barlow, B.A. pp 451-470.

Given, D.R. 1969:  A synopsis of infrageneric categories in Celmisia (Astereae-Compositae).  New Zealand Journal of Botany 7: 400-418

Mark, A.F. & N.M. Adams 1995: New Zealand alpine plants. Godwit Publishing Ltd, Auckland.

 

 

 

 

Ozothamnus (Cassinia)

Shrubs with leaves with recurved margins.  Capitula are in corymbose or paniculate terminal inflorescences.  Papery white, ash grey, or gold involucral bracts and scales on the receptacle among the florets.  A small number of florets in the capitula, either all tubular and hermaphrodite or with a few female around the edges.   The achene has a persistant pappus.  An Australasian genus of about 21 species, most found in Australia.

The New Zealand species of Cassinia were recently transferred to Ozothamnus by Breitwieser & Ward (1997).  Allan (1961) described five New Zealand species and Webb et al. (1988) recognised only one polymorphic species.  However, many New Zealand botanists prefer to recognise other species and some earlier combinations in Ozothanmus are available (as below).


Ozothamnus vauvilliersii (mountain tauhinu)

 

Keys

New Zealand taxa

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

Small-leaved taxa

Wilson, T. & T. Galloway 1993: Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch.

 

References

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

Breitwieser, I. & Ward, J.M. 1993: Systematics of the New Zealand Inuleae. (Compositae_Asteraceae) – Numerical phenetic analysis of leaf anatomy and flavonoids.  New Zealand Journal of Botany 31 (1): 43-58.

Breitwieser, I. & Ward, J.M. 1997: Transfer of Cassinia leptophylla (Compositae) to Ozothamnus. New Zealand Journal of Botany 35 (1): 125-128.

Mark, A.F. & N.M. Adams 1995: New Zealand alpine plants. Godwit Publishing Ltd, Auckland

Poole, A. L. & N. M. Adams 1994: Trees and shrubs of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington.

Webb, C.J., W.R. Sykes & P.J. Garnock-Jones 1988: Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV, DSIR Wellington.

Wilson, T. & T. Galloway 1993: Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch.

 

 

 

 

Brachyglottis

Small trees and shrubs, a few herbs with alternate leaves and spreading branches.  Ray florets are female, while the disk florets are hermaphrodite, tubular and five toothed and have recurved style-branches. Achenes have many pappus hairs.

Approximately 30 endemic species and one Tasmanian.  Brachyglottis now includes B. repanda and other indigenous New Zealand shrubs and some herbs that were previously placed in the genus Senecio.  Brachyglottis is distinguished from Senecio by the shape of the female flower corolla and the glandular achenes. 


Brachyglottis repanda (rangiora)               Brachyglottis elaeagnifolia (leatherwood)

 

 

Keys

New Zealand taxa

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

Small-leaved taxa

Wilson, T. & T. Galloway 1993: Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch.

 

References

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

Connor, H.E. & Edgar, E. 1987: Name changes in the indigenous New Zealand flora, 1960-1986 and Nomina Nova IV, 1993-1986.  New Zealand Journal of Botany 25(1): 115-170.

Mark, A.F. & N.M. Adams 1995: New Zealand alpine plants. Godwit Publishing Ltd, Auckland

Nordenstam, B. 1978: Taxonomic studies in the tribe Senecioneae (Compositae). Opera Botanica 44:1-83

Poole, A. L. & N. M. Adams 1994: Trees and shrubs of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington.

Wagstaff, S.J. & I. Breitwieser 2002: Phylogenetic relationships of New Zealand Asteraceae inferred from ITS sequences.  Plant Systematics and Evolution 321: 203-224

Webb, C.J., W.R. Sykes & P.J. Garnock-Jones 1988: Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV, DSIR Wellington

Wilson, T. & T. Galloway 1993: Small-leaved Shrubs of New Zealand. Manuka Press, Christchurch

 

 

 Anaphalioides (Gnaphalium, Anaphalis & Helichrysum)

Evergreen or mat forming perennial herbs, woody at the base with a central tap root.  Leaves are alternate, spreading and sessile, midvein obvious and underside densely hairy.  Capitula solitary or in corymbs, have a slightly sweet pyrethrum small when open.  Leaves on flowering stems become smaller and narrower towards branches Involucral bracts spirally arranged, 4-5 series, upper half white, lower half green.  Outer florets female, green, inner florets hermaphrodite, pale green or yellow.  Achenes narrowly cylindrical. 

Of the New Zealand species now placed in Anaphalioides by Glenny (1997) most were placed by Allan (1961) in Gnaphalium or Helichrysum and by Webb et al. (1988) in Anaphalis.

 


Capitula of Anaphalioides alpina.  Note that what appear to be ray florets are actually bracts.

 

Keys

Glenny, D. 1997: A revision of the genus Anaphalioides (Asteraceae:Gnaphalieae).  New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(4): 451-478.

 

References

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

Glenny, D. 1997: A revision of the genus Anaphalioides (Asteraceae:Gnaphalieae).  New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(4): 451-478.

Glenny, D. & S. Wagstaff 1997:  Evolution and biogeography of New Zealand Anaphalis (Asteraceae:Gnaphalieae) inferred from rDNA sequences.  New Zealand Journal of Botany 35(4): 441-450.

Webb, C.J., W.R. Sykes & P.J. Garnock-Jones 1988: Flora of New Zealand, Volume IV, DSIR Wellington.

 

Craspedia

Perennial rosette herbs.  Capitula small numerous and crowded together into a dense glomerule that is surrounded by short bracts.  The glomerules are solitary on the end of an undivided peduncle emerging from the centre of the plant.  There are 3-8 hermaphrodite and five toothed florets in each capitula.  A genus of ill-defined species confined to New Zealand, Tasmania and Australia.  Possibly 40 endemic species in New Zealand, many of which have not been formally named (as below).

 


Craspedia sp. unnamed (C. “Otakeho”)

 

Keys

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

 

References

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

Mark, A.F. & N.M. Adams 1995: New Zealand alpine plants. Godwit Publishing Ltd, Auckland