Flora of New Zealand Series

Aster coriaceus Forst. f. Prodr. 1786, 56.

Type locality: Dusky Sound. Type: P, G. Forster.

Robust tufted herb, sts forming large clumps of offset plants from branched runners; sheaths densely compacted to form a thick pseudostem up to c. 10 cm. long. Lamina lanceolate to lanceolate- or ovate-oblong, sulcate, coriac., (2)-3-4-(6) dm. × (2.5)-4-8-(10) cm., acute to acuminate; upper surface covered by conspicuous pellicle of matted glistening hairs, separating when old; lower clad in dense closely appressed white satiny tomentum, midrib us. distinct; margins entire, slightly recurved, narrowed to short petiole; sheath clad in dense long white hairs, often forming a ± deciduous pellicle. Scape stout, up to c. 4 dm. long, clad in appressed white satiny tomentum; bracts ∞, lamina linear-subulate, up to c. 10 cm. long, the uppermost us. crowded, forming a pseudo-involucre around capitulum 4-10 cm. diam. Phyll. ∞, linear-subulate, up to c. 2 cm. long, acute, strongly veined, floccose on margins and towards apex. Ray-florets ∞, (2)-3-4 cm. long; limb narrow-oblong, very conspicuous, us. 4-toothed. Disk-florets c. 7-8 mm. long, narrow-funnelform; teeth minute, broad-triangular. Achenes compressed-cylindric to almost fusiform, often curved, strongly grooved, glab., 5-7 mm. long. Pappus-hairs slender, white, up to 9 mm. long, very finely barbellate.

DIST.: S. Montane to subalpine grassland, herbfield, fellfield throughout; occ. in coastal and lowland stations.

There is a Forster specimen at K labelled Aster integrifolius; 2 lvs and a scape, resembling var. stricta. The group is very complex; the lines between coriacea, its narrower forms and monroi are difficult to draw. It is almost certain that hybrids occur.