Helichrysum Mill.
Usually herbs or shrubs, rarely lianes. Lvs usually alternate, rarely subopposite, simple, entire. Capitula solitary or in small corymbs; corymbs sometimes aggregated into dense or diffuse clusters or panicles. Involucral bracts in 2-many rows, imbricate, membranous, sometimes with coloured radiating lamina. Receptacle flat to convex; scales usually 0, rarely few and reduced. Outer florets ♀, filiform, usually few or sometimes 0. Inner florets (sometimes all florets) ⚥, tubular. Achenes all similar, terete or slightly flattened, obscurely angled or ribbed; pappus hairs in 1 row, narrow or thickened at apex.
Key
c. 500 spp., Eurasia, Africa, Australasia. Native spp. 9, naturalised 2.
The generic limits of Helichrysum are not clearly defined - in general Helichrysum differs from Cassinia in the absence of receptacular scales and from Gnaphalium in having fewer ♀ than ⚥ florets. The placement of many indigenous spp. is unsatisfactory and many "intergeneric" hybrids are recorded. The whole group requires further study particularly in relation to the complex in Australia. Most of the indigenous spp. are probably closest to the anaphaloid cudweeds now treated in Anaphalis.
