Olearia allomii

The species was formally described by Thomas Kirk in 1871, and was discovered at Mount Young on Great Barrier Island in November 1867 by Kirk, Albert James Allom and Frederick Hutton.{{CiteQ|Q130282239}} Kirk named the species after Allom.{{cite journal|title=Biographical Notes (2): Albert James Allom (1825-1909) |pages=11–12 |first=Eric |last=Godley |url=http://nzbotanicalsociety.org.nz/newsletter/NZBotSoc-1991-24.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127131021/http://nzbotanicalsociety.org.nz/newsletter/NZBotSoc-1991-24.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2018 |journal=New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter |number=34 |date=June 1991}}

Kirk's original text (the type description) reads as follows:

{{cquote|A low shrub, varying from a few inches to two feet in height, branching from the base, branches few, stout. Leaves oblong, unequal at the base, excessively thick and coriaceous, obtuse, shining, reticulate above, principal veins diverging from the mid-rib nearly at right angles, mid-rib prominent below, often giving the leaf a keeled appearance, leaf covered below with densely appressed, silvery, shining, tomentum, l"-2" long, rather closely set; petioles short, stout; corymbs longer than the leaves, pecluncled, downy, spreading, lax, many-headed, simple or slightly branched. Heads on stout downy pedicels ¼"-¾ long, large, broad; involuere cylindrical; scales numerous, imbricate, broadly lanceolate, obtuse, puberulous or downy; florets 6-8; rays about 8, broad, notched at the apex, white; pappus brown spreading, feathered. Achenes downy.

}}

O. allomii has broad dish-shaped leathery leaves with white undersides, which measure {{cvt|2.5-5|cm}} by {{cvt|2-4|cm}}. The species has fuzzy white twigs, a thick stalk, and typically has large clusters of white flowers.

Kirk noted similarities to the species Olearia haastii, but could identify O. allomii due to the larger size of its parts, dwarf rigid habit, and loose scales.

The species flowers between September and December, and fruits between October and April.

The species is endemic to Great Barrier Island and the surrounding islands of the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.{{Cite GBIF|id=5405174|taxon=Olearia allomii|access-date=13 July 2024}} In 2009, the species was confirmed to be present on Kaikōura Island.{{cite journal|url=https://bts.nzpcn.org.nz/site/assets/files/22991/abj62_1_2007-78-95-gtbarrie.pdf |last=Cameron |first=E.K. |year=2007 |title=The Vascular Flora of Motu Kaikoura, Fitzroy Harbour, Great Barrier Island |journal=Auckland Botanical Society Journal |number=62 |pages=78–85}} O. allomii is one of the few plants endemic to the Auckland Region.{{cite report|url=https://www.tiakitamakimakaurau.nz/media/ipmfl4ug/conservation-status-of-vascular-plant-species-in-auckland.pdf |title=Conservation Status of Vascular Plant Species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland |first1=Emma |last1=Simpkins |first2=Jacinda |last2=Woolly |first3=Peter |last3=de Lange |author-link3=Peter de Lange (botanist) |first4=Cameron |last4=Kilgour |first5=Ewen |last5=Cameron |first6=Sabine |last6=Melzer |date=December 2022 |access-date=11 September 2024}}

O. allomii typically grows on cliffs, rock outcrops or open shrubland, typical of the central area of Great Barrier Island.

Olearia allomii Kirk (AM AK9475).jpg|Syntype from the herbarium of the Auckland War Memorial Museum

Olearia allomii3 by Peter de Lange.jpg|Flowers of O. allomii

Olearia allomii 43291337.jpg|Leaves of O. allomii

Olearia allomii 233032234.jpg|O. allomii growing in its typical rocky habitat

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{{Great Barrier Island}}

allomii

Category:Endemic flora of New Zealand

Category:Plants described in 1871

Category:Endemic biota of the Auckland Region, New Zealand

Category:Taxa named by Thomas Kirk

Category:Flora of the North Island