Olearia macrodonta (mountain holly or arorangi in New Zealand, or New Zealand holly elsewhere[2]) is a small sub-alpine evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand, from the plant family Asteraceae. It is closely related to the narrow-leaved Olearia ilicifolia, with which it shares several characteristics including largely undulating and serrated grey-green leaves. These common characteristics mean the two species are often confused with one another. It is found in lowland to sub-alpine forests from the East Cape of the North Island of New Zealand southwards throughout the South Island and Stewart Island, at 450–1,200 metres (1,480–3,940 ft) in altitude.
| Olearia macrodonta | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Olearia |
| Species: | O. macrodonta
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| Binomial name | |
| Olearia macrodonta | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Olearia macrodonta is a shrub to spreading small tree that grows 1.5–6 metres (4 ft 11 in – 19 ft 8 in) tall. Its leaves are 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long, 2.5–4 cm (0.98–1.57 in) wide, with undulating and coarsely serrated margins, greyish green above. Its daisy-like composite flowers are white with yellow centres and grow in large, rounded, much-branched corymbs.[3]
Despite its common name, O. macrodonta is not closely related to the true hollies Ilex. The specific epithet macrodonta means "large-toothed", referring to the leaves.[4]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5]
References
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- ^ a b "Olearia macrodonta Baker". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Olearia macrodonta". Retrieved 25 May 2013.