Olearia arguta

Olearia arguta is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is an erect, hairy aromatic herb that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and has oblong leaves, sometimes with a few pointed teeth near the end and produces white, blue, purple or pink daisy-like inflorescences.^[2][3] It was first formally described in 1867 by George Bentham from specimens collected on an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria by Robert Brown.^[4] The specific epithet (arguta) means "sharply-toothed".^[5]

Olearia arguta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Olearia
Species:	O. arguta
Binomial name
Olearia arguta Benth.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Aster argutus Benth. nom. inval., pro syn. Shawia arguta (Benth.) Britten

Bentham also described two subspecies and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

• Olearia arguta Benth. var. arguta^[6]
• Olearia arguta var. lanata Benth.^[7]

Olearia arguta occurs in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Top End of the Northern Territory and in north Queensland.^[2][8] It is listed as "not threatened" by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and as of "least concern" under the Northern Territory Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.^[2][8]