daisies up the sheltered coastal sites
- Size
- Height: 2-4 m
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Diet
- Photosynthetic shrub or small tree. Obtains nutrients from well-drained coastal soils. Not applicable as autotroph.
- Habitat
- Coastal and lowland forests. Grows in sheltered sites near coast in North Island and northern South Island.
- Range
- Endemic to New Zealand. Found in coastal and lowland forests of North Island and northern South Island.
- Endemism
- Endemic
- Main Threats
- No significant threats. Habitat loss from coastal development may affect local populations in some areas.
- Population
- Localised but stable. Not threatened.
- Conservation Status
- data_deficient
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native shrub, safe to handle
- Conservation Note
- Endemic tree daisy restricted to Chatham Islands; data insufficient for full threat classification.
- Assessment
- NZTCS Vascular Plants (2023)
- Te Ao Māori
- Macrolearia angustifolia has no recognised Māori name. Grows in coastal forests of North Island. Region of rich resources for Māori. Plant is part of coastal ecology. Valued for its place in forest community.
Macrolearia angustifolia has narrow leaves. As name suggests. Tree daisy with long, narrow, leathery foliage. Dark green above, pale beneath. Crowded at branch tips. Flowers are white, daisy-like. Appearing in spring and summer. Grows in coastal forests from Northland to Marlborough. Smaller than relatives. More delicate. More refined.
Was once known as Olearia angustifolia. In 2022 genus Macrolearia was created. To house largest-leaved tree daisies. Reclassification recognised these plants are distinct group. This species is one of less common Macrolearia. Localised. Never abundant. Grows in specific conditions. Coastal forest. Sheltered sites. Good drainage. Does not tolerate disturbance.
Leaves are giveaway. Narrow, long, crowded. No other Macrolearia looks quite like it.
Macrolearia angustifolia is not threatened. Habitat is limited but secure. Coastal forests of North Island remain largely intact. It carries on regardless.