Olearia elliptica

Olearia elliptica is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and has scattered, curved, elliptic leaves 20–115 mm (0.79–4.53 in) long, 5–38 mm (0.20–1.50 in) wide on a petiole up to 12 mm (0.47 in) long. The upper surface of the leaves is sticky and the lower surface is a paler green. The flowers are borne in corymbs on the ends of the stems, each flower 11–26 mm (0.43–1.02 in) wide, the groups on a peduncle up to 12 mm (0.47 in) long. Each "flower" has between 8 and 23 white ray florets and between 8 and 30 yellow disc florets in the centre. Flowering occurs between November and May and the fruit are bristly achenes.[2]

Olearia elliptica was first formally described in 1836 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle who published the description in his 17-volume treatise, Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis.[3][4] The specific epithet (elliptica) is a Latin word meaning "a defective circle" or "an ellipse".[5]

In 1993, Peter Shaw Green described two subspecies of O. elliptica that have been accepted by the Australian Plant Census:[6]

• Olearia elliptica subsp. elliptica has more heads of flowers in the corymb (between 20 and 50) and occurs in continental New South Wales and Queensland;[7]
• praetermissa is a smaller plant with between 8 and 15 flowers in the corymb and is endemic to Lord Howe Island.[8][9] The epithet praetermissa is a Latin word meaning "overlooked", referring to the distinctness of this subspecies having only been recognised recently.[6]

Subspecies elliptica occurs from Berry northwards along central and eastern New South Wales to the Queensland border.[2] It is found in areas of annual rainfall of over 900 mm in the Sydney Basin.[10]

Sticky daisy bush adapts readily to cultivation, preferring acidic soils in part shade or sun.[9]