Saturday 14 February 2009

Olearia argophylla


Aster argophyllus
Curtis's Botanical Magazine Nº 1563, Vol 37, (1813)

Olearia argophylla (Labill.) F. Muell. ex Benth
Fl. austral. 3:470. 1867

syn. Eurybia argophylla Cuss.
Aster argophyllus Labill.

cultivated Jardim Cabeço de Bolla, Lisbon 1899 as Eurybia argophylla,

Musk-tree of Tasmania, an arborescent Composite.
Musk-Scented Star-Wort

Botanical Magazine
Fresh flowering specimens of this plant were kindly communicated to us, by Mr. Handscomb, of Newport-Pagnel, Buckinghamfhire, on the 1st of May last, who informs us that they were taken from a fine shrub nine or ten feet in height, which had been at that time nearly a month in full flower.

Thriving plants of this Aster have for some years been to be seen in several collections about town ; and are much admired for the delicate scent of mufk, which the leaves retain for a long time after they are dried, as well as when recent.

We received a present of a very fine shrub of this kind from Mr. Knight, of the Exotic Nursery, King's-Road, some time since, but it shewed no signs of flowering, and with us soon lost its scent, probably from having the powder which usually covers the upper surlace of the leaves rubbed off; for to this substance the musky odour appears to be confined. We have not heard of this shub having blossomed in this country before the present year. M. Labillardiere describes the flower as having three rays, in our cultivated specimens there were almost constantly five.
Native of Van Diemen's Island, where it grows to a small tree, the wood of which, as we are informed by Mr. Brown, is remarkably hard. Should be kept in the greenhouse. Propagated by cuttings. Introduced, according to Mr. Aiton, in 1804, by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy.


Darwin refers to this species: "Besides, in Tasmania at least, the arborescent Composites are not found competing with herbaceous plants alone, and growing taller and taller by overtopping them...; for the most arborescent of them all (Eurybia argophylla, the Musk tree) grows...in Eucalyptus forests."
Darwin, Francis & Seward, A. C. eds. 1903. More letters of Charles Darwin. A record of his work in a series of hitherto unpublished letters. London: John Murray. Volume 1. p.163
Australian Plant Names Index
Asteraceae
Eurybia argophylla (Labill.) Cass.
Cassini, A.H.G. in Cuvier, F. (Ed) (1825), Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles Edn. 2, 37: 487 [comb. nov.]
synonym: Aster argophyllus Labill. Bentham, G. (1867), Flora Australiensis 3: 470
synonym of: Olearia argophylla (Labill.) F.Muell. ex Benth.
Asteraceae
Aster argophyllus Labill.
Labillardiere, J.J.H. de (1806), Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen 2: 52, t. 201
Type: "in capite Van-Diemen."
Comment: Base name for Eurybia argophylla (Labill.) Cass.; Olearia argophylla (Labill.) Benth.; Shawia argophylla (Labill.) Schultz-Bip.Cassini, A.H.G. in Cuvier, F. (Ed) (1825), Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles Edn. 2, 37: 487
synonym of: Eurybia argophylla (Labill.) Cass. Schultz (Bipontinus), C.H. (1861) Pollichia 18/19: 173
basionym of: Shawia argophylla (Labill.) Sch.Bip. Bentham, G. (1867), Flora Australiensis 3: 470
synonym of: Olearia argophylla (Labill.) F.Muell. ex Benth.

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