OLEARIA AVICENNIA‘VFOLIA, Hook. f. 
THE AKEAKE. 
OrDER—COMPOSIT-®. 
(Plate CXI.) 
OLEARIA AVICENNIASFOLIA is one of several small trees termed ‘‘ ake” or ‘‘ ake- 
ake’’ by the Maoris: it is an ornamental shrub, from O6ft. to 2o0ft. high or 
upwards. Its flowers are produced in great profusion, and, as they stand clear 
of the foliage, are displayed to great advantage. The branches are angular, 
erooved, hoary with fine white pubescence: the leaves are alternate, from 
din. to 3in. long and from tin. to 2in, in width, flat, and clothed with closely- 
appressed white hairs beneath. The flower-heads are very small, but produced 
in great profusion, forming large panicles, usually exceeding the leaves, and 
carried on long slender stalks: they are arranged in fascicles of from two to 
five on pedicels din. to }in. long. The involucre is narrow and cylindrical, 
consisting of but few leaves, and containing from two to four florets, of which 
two are perfect, with tubular corollas; the others being female and furnished with 
a ray, but the ray-florets are sometimes absent. The flowers are produced from 
November to January. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The wood of this species is compact, dense, and even, with a yellowish 
satiny lustre, and is often marked with dark streaks: it is frequently waved and 
prettily figured. There is no certain evidence as to its durability, but it is of 
decided value for those purposes of the cabinetmaker which do not require wood 
of large dimensions, and for ornamental work generally, inlaying, &c. It is 
easily cultivated, and may be kept in a dwarf condition by pruning. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
See under Olearia Traversti, p. 47, ante. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Olearia avicenniefolia is endemic in New Zealand, and is restricted to the 
South Island, being found in all the districts, although rather local in some 
localities. It occurs on Stewart Island. I[t is most plentiful in river-valleys, 
where it sometimes covers considerable areas, almost to the entire exclusion of 
other trees: when growing in rocky places, or sohtary, it usually assumes a 
spreading habit. 
It ranges from the sea-level to about 3,o0oft., but 1s most plentiful below 
1,60oft. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Olearia avicennieefolia, Hook. f., “‘ Handbook of the New Zealand 
Flora,” p. 120. 
Eurybia avicenniefolia, Hook. f., ‘* Flora Novew-Zelandia,” 1., p. 127. 
Shawia avicenniefolia, Raoul. 
A shrub or small tree, sometimes fully 2oft. high. Branches grooved, 
hoary. Leaves alternate, quite entire, lanceolate-oblong or ovate-oblong, sub- 
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