OLEARIA CUNNINGHAMIL, Hook.f 
THE HEKETARA. 
OrdER—COMPOSIT#. 
(Plate CXIV.) 
OLEARIA CUNNINGHAMIL was discovered by Banks and Solander in 1769, and 
received the MS. name of Solidago canescens, but was first published by Cunning- 
ham under the name of Brachyeglottis Rani, It was described by Sir Joseph 
Hooker in the ‘*‘ Flora Nove-Zelandix”’ as Euryvbia Cunningham, but in the 
“ Handbook of the New Zealand Flora” all the New Zealand species of Fury- 
bia were merged in Olearia. 
Olearia Cunningham varies greatly in habit and stature, and is evidently 
affected by the conditions under which it grows: when in the open, it forms a 
much-branched bush, sometimes with leaves little more than tin. in length; 
if in cool partially-shaded situations, it forms a tall shrub, branched from the 
base, and usually exhibiting great luxuriance; if growing in woods, it becomes 
a small tree, sometimes 25ft. high, with a trunk ift. or more in diameter and 
large leaves. In all situations its large panicles of white flowers are developed 
in the greatest profusion, so that during the month of October it forms a marked 
feature in the northern woodlands. — 
Il am indebted to the Ven. Archdeacon W. L. Williams for the Native 
name, ‘‘ heketara,”’ 
The branchlets, leaf-stalks, and panicles are clothed with soft brown hairs. 
The leaves are alternate, from 21n. to 5in. long, and from Lin. to 24in. wide ; 
they vary considerably in shape, but are usually acute at the apex, the margins 
being cut into close or rather distant teeth, and the under-surface white with 
partially-appressed hairs. The panicles are from 3in. to 7in. long, and spring 
from the axils of the leaves near the tips of the branches. The flower-heads 
are din. in diameter, with spreading rays. Each head contains from fourteen 
to twenty-four florets, of which the outer series is female, with strap-shaped 
corollas, forming the ray: the inner florets are perfect, tubular, bell-shaped at 
the mouth; they are only about half the number of the ray-florets. The flowers 
are produced from the latter part of September to the middle of November, 
PRopertizs AND Usrs, 
The wood of Olearia Cunningham 1s light-coloured, compact, and satiny, 
with very fine silver grain and small figure. It is occasionally used by the 
cabinetmaker. 
It is a valuable plant for the shrubbery and for deep borders, as it readily 
adapts itself to a great variety of soilsand situations, producing its large panicles 
in great profusion alike on light volcanic soils and stiff clays. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
See under Olearia Traversii, p. 47, ante. 
Las 
