OLEARIA TRAVERSII. F. Mueller. 
THE AKEAKE. 
ORDER—COMPOSITZ.. 
(Plate XXXTV.) 
OveARIA TRAVERSII was originally discovered in the Chatham Islands by Dief- 
fenbach in 1840, but was mistaken by that traveller for the mangrove (A vicennia 
officinalis, Forst.),* to which it exhibits a certain general resemblance, but is 
never found growing in tidal mud, the invariable habit of that plant. It was 
rediscovered by Captain Gilbert Mair in 1862, and by Mr. H. H. Travers in 
1863; the specimens collected by the latter gentleman were described by Sir 
Ferd. von Mueller, in his ‘‘ Vegetation of the Chatham Islands,”’ under the name 
of Eurybia Travers ; but, as Eurybia cannot be separated from Olearia, it was 
formally described under the name of Olearia Traversii by Sir Joseph Hooker 
in ‘‘ The Handbook of the New Zealand Flora” (p. 731). 
Captain Mair informed me that it is termed akeake by the natives of the 
Chatham Islands—a name applied also to other species of the genus in different 
parts of New Zealand, Mr. H. Travers states that it is called ‘bastard sandal- 
wood-tree *’ by the settlers on Pitt Island. 
This species forms a small tree 25ft. to 35ft. hich, often with a trunk over 
3ft. in diameter at the base, but usually smaller. Branches strict in the young 
state, somewhat spreading when mature, opposite. Branchlets, under-surface 
of leaves, panicles, and involucres white, with close silky down; branchlets 
irregularly angular. Leaves opposite, about 2in. or more in length, oblong or 
ovate, on short leaf-stalks, acute. Flowers in much-branched panicles, tin. 
to 3in. long, springing from the axils of the leaves. Flower-heads small, very 
numerous, but not showy. The florets are of two kinds: the outer florets are 
abortive and tubular, with an oblique mouth, but without a tay; inner florets 
perfect; mouth of corolla five-lobed. 
Olearia Traversit forms an attractive tree, although the flowers are not 
remarkable for their beauty. [he coriaceous leaves, of a bright-green on their 
upper surface, and white with silky down below, the white branches and invo- 
lucre, afford continuous changes of colour when the tree is agitated by the wind. 
It is the only New Zealand species of Olearia with opposite leaves. 
PROPERTIES AND UsEs. 
The wood is dense, heavy, firm, and compact, with a satiny lustre when 
worked up. In old trees the outer portion is usually more or less mottled, and 
is readily purchased by cabinetmakers for ornamental work: unfortunately, it is 
but rarely to be obtained, owing to the infrequent communication with the 
Chatham Islands. The late Mr. Seuffert, cabinetmaker, of Auckland, received 
small parcels at various times, and valued it highly for inlaying and special 
work. 
*See post, Plate CXILI. 
