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Olearia ilicifolia, common name Mountain Holly or New Zealand Holly, is a large shrub or small tree from the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and commonly found in lowland bush and subalpine environments anywhere south of the East Cape (central North Island) down to Stewart Island in the south. The dark green leaves are quite narrow and have distinctive spikes along the waved edges, like teeth. It blooms in dense clusters of daisy-like flowers with white petals and a bright yellow floret in the centre. It is described as having a 'musky' scent that provided multiple traditional uses. O. ilicifolia is referred to as Hakeke, Hākēkeke or Kōtaratara in Māori.

Description
Mountain Holly is a small spreading tree which can grow up to 5m tall with a spread up to 3m. The plant produces a ‘musky’ fragrance, making it an attractive species. The trunk can reach 35cm in diameter and will usually fork into multiple trunks somewhat near the base. The trunk is lined with orange/grey and brown bark which tends to flake off in thin vertical strips. The many lateral branchlets that follow are stout and fork again repeatedly to produce an umbrella-shaped canopy structure. The most distinctive feature is the unforgiving leathery dark green leaves that have teeth-like spikes along the strongly undulating leaf margin. These leaves are thick and rigid, but have a very narrow form; typically, 5-12cm x 1-2cm. The lateral leaf venation is at a noticeably wide angle from the midrib when compared to most New Zealand Natives. The twigs and leaf stalks are dark brown to black in colour. Juvenile parts of the plant have pubescent hairs, that remain on established plants only on the underside of the leaves. In addition to hairs, the leaf undersides develop a dense yellow-white tomentum (matted woolly down material on the leaf surface) which sheds off as the plant ages. Another distinctive feature is its daisy-like flowers. It blooms dense clusters of lateral corymbose panicle flowers (approximately 1cm in diameter) near branchlet apices (apex or tip). The flowers are made of 10-15 white ray floret petals and a yellow disc-floret in the centre. It produces achenes 2mm in length, which are fruits that contains a small brown seed. The achenes are covered with 3mm long fluffy yellow pappus hairs. This adaption allows the plant to distribute by wind, and the 0.28mg achenes allow them to disperse over considerable distances.



Distribution
Mountain Holly is endemic to New Zealand and can be found anywhere south of the East Cape (Pukeamaru and Herangi Ranges) in the North Island, throughout the South Island and even on New Zealand’s southernmost island, Stewart Island. It naturally occurs in lowland to subalpine environments of the North Island, and in lowland forest and scrub of the South Island. Articles also indicate that it is available and used in certain parts of the UK. It prefers the elevation and environmental conditions of mountainous regions, but it can reach sea level in the far south. Common habitats include but are not limited to subalpine forests and scrub, shrublands, river systems, the head of valleys and even mountainous cloud forests.

Life cycle
Olearia ilicifolia is an evergreen species and therefore keeps most of its leaves all year round. It stops producing new leaves and shoot growth before the cold seasons, not because of the change in temperature or light, but because of predetermined numbers of leaf primordia in the resting buds. It flowers from late spring to mid-summer for typically two months depending on environmental conditions. The findings of a lab trial indicate that germination of the seed occurs within 5 and 12 days of incubation and and a success rate of 50% achenes germinate after 25 days.

Interactions
Olearia ilicifolia thrives in the growing conditions of well-drained, moist, humus enriched soil, but it is susceptible to drought, and hot and humid temperatures. O. ilicifolia grows well in cool temperatures and is one of the hardiest species of Olearia, tolerating temperatures down to -15 °C. Several Hemiptera sucking bug species are associated with Mountain Holly. They either live on the plant or feed on its leaves. The juvenile Trioza doryphore nymphs in particular can cause leaf edge roll when they feed on establishing leaves that have not yet sclerotized (hardened into sclerotin). Other pests of O. ilicifolia include the larvae of two Lepidoptera moth species which create mines inside of the leaves to feed on the softer interior plant tissue. Most introduced mammals find the foliage unpalatable, likely due to the spiked teeth on the leaves. O. ilicifolia is a host to several exotic liverwort and fungi species and the native Psoroma asperellum lichen. Another native species is the strap fern, Notogrammitis angustifolia, which is an epiphyte, meaning it grows off of the host without affecting it.

Further information
The species name ‘ilicifolia’ translates to (Ilex) Holly-like leaves, as they resemble those of a Holly Tree. It is one of 47 varieties of Olearia. Olearia ilicifolia can be confused with the similar-looking, but rarer hybrid of O. ilicifolia and Olearia arborescens, Olearia x macrodonta. A differentiating feature between the two is the broader leaves of O. x macrodonta. Less common instances of hybridization occur with O. lacunosa and with O. quinquevulnera. Hybridization is the result of overlapping species distribution. Traditionally, juvenile O. ilicifolia plants were brought into village gardens, and the scented leaves were used for toilet oil and neck sachet fragrance.