Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asterales Link
Family
Compositae Giseke
Genus
Celmisia Cass.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Celmisia argentea Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 292 (1899)
Synonymy:
  • = Celmisia sessiliflora var. minor Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 15: 359 (1883)
Vernacular Name(s):
Silver cushion mountain daisy
 Description

Densely branched subshrub up to 2 dm. tall, us. rather shorter; branches ascending, stout, clad in lf-remains, up to c. 15 cm. long, woody; branchlets very close-set, ± 5 cm. long, erect or ascending. Lvs ∞, very densely imbricate, ascending; plant forming small cushions or sts mats up to ± 2 dm. diam. Lamina ± 6–12 × 0·5–1·5 mm., coriac., linear-subulate, clad on both surfaces in greyish white appressed tomentum, concavo-convex; apex subacute to acute, sts subcucullate. Sheath ± = lamina, rather broader, pale, membr., clad in long silky hairs on margins and back, becoming glab. or nearly so. Capitula sessile or nearly so, terminal, sunk among apical lvs, ± 6–12 mm. diam.; phyll. linear-subulate, almost scarious, pale except at dark tip, up to c. 10 mm. long, glab. except for a few hairs at tip, midvein distinct. Ray-florets 8–10 mm. long, tube very slender, limb about lanceolate, 3–4-toothed, veins evident. Disk-florets c. 7 mm. long, very narrow-funnelform, teeth minute, triangular. Achenes c. 3 mm. long, narrow-cyclindric, subcompressed, ribs clad in very short ascending hairs. Pappus-hairs up to 6 mm. long, white, slender, very finely barbellate.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z.
Petrie, D. 1883 ("1882"): Description of a Variety of Celmisia sessiflora, Hook.f. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 15: 359.