Cassinia R.Br.
Shrubs or small trees, rarely herbs. Lvs alternate, simple, entire. Capitula in small corymbs; corymbs aggregated into rounded, flat, or pyramidal, dense or diffuse panicles. Involucral bracts in 3-5 rows, imbricate, membranous; innermost bracts often with white, erect or rarely slightly radiating lamina. Receptacle convex; scales usually present, sometimes O, often with white, erect or rarely radiating apices. Florets usually all ⚥, tubular, sometimes a few outer florets ♀ and filiform. Achenes all similar, angled, terete or slightly compressed; pappus hairs in 1 row, narrow or thickened at apex.
Key
c. 16 spp., Australia, N.Z. Native sp. 1, naturalised 1.
Cassinia is distinguished from Helichrysum by the presence of receptacular scales and sometimes by the absence of conspicuously radiating bracts. However, scales may be absent in some Cassinia spp., e.g. some plants of C. leptophylla, and present in some Helichrysum spp. Radiating bracts and scales, as found in C. leptophylla only, indicate a similarity with the monotypic South African Rhynea and Helichrysum sect. Ozothamus in Australia.
