Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Compositae
Genus: Celmisia
Species: C. hookeri
Binomial name: Celmisia hookeri
Common name: Hooker's mountain daisy
Celmisia hookeri is a rare, perennial native plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in the South Island in Northern and eastern Otago from Moeraki and Shag Points inland through the WainakaruaRiver, Trotters Gorge, and OtepopuRiver to the Horse Range and Macraes Flat; also by the Mataura river and between Mid Dome and SlatesRanges. Its habitat is open lowland or montane areas such as cliffs, bluffs or rocky areas to 450 masl.
Celmisia hookeri forms rosettes of large mid-green,40 cm long, pointed, leathery leaves that are green above and with white tomentum below and hairy on their margins.
A single daisy-like flower head (>10cm in diameter) is held above the leaves on a 30-40 cm long stalk that is covered in white tomentum. The flower has white ray florets and a yellow centre. Flowering occurs during September – December.
It is now sold as a rock garden plant in specialised nurseries.
For more details visit: http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=239
Photographed at Otari Wilton Nature Reserve.
The white underside of a leaf.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
