418 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



plants, unrivalled in beauty on the mainland of New Zealand. Amongst them 

 are several species belonging to the endemic genus Pleurophiillioii. The general 

 appearance of these plants is well described by Kirk.* 



Genus Cehnisia. 



Herbs, aster-like, with radical, simple leaves, more or less clothed with silky 

 or cottony hairs. Stems 1-flowered. Heads large. Ray-florets white. Pappus of 

 2 series of rigid bristles. Achene glabrous or silky. A beautiful genus, of which 

 all but 2 species {C. laiigifolia, and C. Lechleri) are endemic in New Zealand. Of 

 these, C. longifolia is found both in New Zealand and Australia, and C. Lechleri 

 is a doubtful Peruvnan species. 43 sp. 



Celmisia coriacea {TJie Leathery Cehnisia). 



Leaves 8 in. -20 in. long, f in. -3 in. broad, acute, with dqpp longitudinal 

 furrows, sheathing at the base, woolly above, silvery below. Flowering-stem 

 6 in. -36 in. high. Head IJ in. -4 in. across ; bracts numerous, cottony. Achene 

 J in. long, hairy, compressed. Rays many, narrow, 1^ in. long. Both islands : 

 mountainous districts. The IMountain Daisy. Fl. Dec. -March. 



Celmisia Monroi {Monro's Cehnisia). 

 Leaves 3 in. -7 in. long, J in. -J in. broad, acute, white with wool. Sheath 

 half as long as the blade. Flower-stem very woolly. Heads 1 in.-lj in. across. 

 Rays few, spreading. Achene glabrous. Both islands. PI. Dec. -Jan. A species 

 midway between C. coriacen and C. Io7igifolia. 



Celmisia longifolia (The Long -leaved Cehnisia). 

 Leaves 1 in. -16 in, long, 3^0 in.-§ in. broad, acute, silvery above, cottony 

 below. Head J in.-l|in. broad, bracts often black at the tips. Achene glabrous 

 or silky. Both islands ; Stewart Island. Fl. Dec. -March. 



Celmisia vernicosa {The Varnished Celmisia). 



Leaves in rosettes, sessile, 1 in. -4 in. long, ^ in. -J in. broad, thick, rigid, 

 sometimes slightly serrate at the tip. Flower-stem 1 in. -8 in. high, with broad 

 bracts. Disk-florets purple, rays white. Achene roughly hairy. Very shining 

 in all its parts. Auckland and Campbell Islands. Fl. Nov. -Dec. 



Closely allied to the genus Olearia, and differing" from it 

 chiefly in habit, is the genus Celmisia. There are some forty 

 species in New Zealand, which, with one exception, are all 

 endemic. The flowers are white, daisy-like, and often very 

 beautiful. Most of the species are found in sub-alpine regions, 

 and hence are termed by the settlers, Mountain Daisies. The 

 leaves are frequently set in a rosette, and are often stiff 



*Report of the .\iistralasiau Association, 1891, i). 2'20. 



