Olearia fimbriata

Key Features

• Semi-deciduous shrub or small tree to 5-8 m, multi-stemmed or with a trunk to 50 cm diameter.
• Small, dull, oval, leaves have loose hairs underneath and are attached to branchlets that are square in cross section (roll between fingers).
• Scales surrounding the small flower heads have dense white hairs on their margins.

Distribution and Habitat

• South Island, locally distributed from Canterbury to Northern Southland. Lowland to montane shrubland, alluvial flats and rock outcrops, sometimes forming dense stands but often only relics remain.

Threats

• Habitat modification and loss.
• Regeneration failure due to competition with exotic grasses and weeds.
• Fire.
• Browsing and disturbance by stock.

Management Opportunities

• Survey for new locations.
• Mark known sites.
• Protection of habitat – avoid afforestation of known sites.
• Propagate and re-establish in appropriate sites.
• Exclude stock.
• Control exotic grasses using glyphosate if necessary.
• Ensure that forest owners are aware of potential habitats and can recognise the species.

Monitoring Options

• Check existing populations annually.
• Report new locations to DOC, NZPCN.

Further Information and Support

• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (NZPCN). http://www.nzpcn.org.nz
• References:
  • Dopson et al. (1999). The conservation requirements of New Zealand’s nationally threatened vascular plants. Threatened Species Occasional Publication 13. Department of Conservation, Wellington.
  • Peter de Lange, Peter Heenan, David Norton, Jeremy Rolfe and John Sawyer (2010). Threatened Plants of New Zealand. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. 472 pp.