114 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. [ Composite. 
Gen. TV. ASPERULA, Linn. 
Omnia Galii, sed corolla infundibuliformis v. campanulata. 
This genus differs from Galium in the campanulate or funnel-shaped corolla, which in the New Zealand species 
is not a very obvious character.—The species are not so numerous as those of Galium, nor so very widely spread, 
being chiefly abundant in the temperate and dry regions of the globe; several are found in Australia, (Name from 
asper, rough ; many of the species, but not the New Zealand one, being scabrid.) 
1. Asperula perpusilla, Hook. fil.; annua, decumbens, glaberrima, caulibus capillaceis curvis ramosis 
ascendentibus foliosis, foliis 4-nis minimis lanceolatis acuminatis aristatis, flore terminali solitario sessili pro 
planta magna, corolla campanulata 4-partita lobis suberectis obtusis, stylo erecto brevi bifido, stigmatibus 
capitatis, fructu glaberrimo. 
Haz. Northern Island. Foot of Tongariro, and of the Tararua range, Colenso. 
A very small, perfectly smooth plant, resembling a slender Zillea, 1-2 inches long. Stems very slender, thread- 
like, branched ; branches ascending. Leaves four in a whorl, 1-2 lines long, lanceolate, acuminate, with a bristle at 
the point, smooth, often curving to one side. Flowers white, large for the size of the plant, terminal, solitary, sessile, 
Ovarium, quite smooth. Corolla campanulate, divided to the base into four linear blunt lobes. Styles united nearly 
throughout their length, separate and diverging at the top, each with a capitate stigma.—This is the smallest species 
of the genus I know. 
Nar. Oz». XLIV. COMPOSITAE, Juss. 
Gen. I. OLEARIA, Mench. 
Capitulum multiflorum, heterogamum, radiatum v. discoideum. Involucrum depresso-hemispheericum, 
cavum ; squamis multiseriatis, disco longioribus. Receptaculum convexum, nudum, alveolatum v. papillo- 
sum, subfimbriliferum. 7. radii si adsint 1-seriati, ligulati, fosminei; staminibus abortivis: disci tubulosi, 
hermaphroditi, 5-fidi; filamentis brevibus; antheris breviter caudatis. Achenium elongatum, costatum, gla- 
brum v. sericeum. Pappus duplex; setis scabris, inæqualibus, 2-seriatis, exterioribus brevioribus.— Frutices, 
floribus solitariis, pedunculatis subpaniculatisve. 
Branching shrubs or small trees, generally woolly on the branchlets and underneath the leaves, which are broad, 
coriaceous, alternate, petiolate, more or less toothed. Heads with or without a ray, very many-flowered. Zuvolucre 
broadly hemispherical, of many narrow imbricate scales. Receptacle naked, convex, hollow, papillose or pitted. 
Flowers of the ray when present whitish, ligulate, female, with very imperfect stamens or none; of the disc tubular, 
campanulate, five-cleft. Fruit elongated, smooth or silky, ribbed. Pappus of many rigid scabrid bristles, placed in 
two rows, irregular in length, the outer shorter. —This very fine genus comprehends the handsomest shrubby 
Composite of New Zealand, bearing large heads, which are white with a purplish or yellow eye; they are chiefly 
confined to the Middle and Southern Islands, especially to the west coast; the New Zealand species are all peculiar ; 
a few others are found in Australia and Tasmania. It differs from Burybia in the double pappus and much larger 
heads of flowers; from Oelmisia chiefly in being shrubby. (Name from Olea, an olive-tree, which some species 
resemble.) 
$ a. Peduncles 1-flowered. Flowers rayed. 
1. Olearia operina, Hook. fil.; ramulis pedunculis bracteis foliisque subtus tomento albo laxe appresso 
vestitis, foliis obovato- v. lineari-lanceolatis acutis acuminatisve obtuse crebre crenato-dentatis crassis coria- 
ceisgue nervis superne obscuris impressis subtus inconspicuis, pedunculis validis erectis, bracteis lanatis 
