Flora of New Zealand Series

Helichrysum leontopodium Hook. f. Fl. N.Z. 1, 1853, 141, t. 37B.

Gnaphalium (Helichrysum) colensoi Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 154.

Original localities: Ruahine Range and Mount Hikurangi. Type: K, "N.Z. Colenso 59, 1847".

Stock stout, woody; stems much-branched, decumbent, woody at base; branchlets ascending. Lvs sessile, 8-20 × 4-5 mm., 3-5-nerved at base, linear- to lanceolate-oblong, acute to subacute, clad on both surfaces in silvery-white to yellowish, shining, appressed tomentum; basal lvs crowded in subrosettes, cauline densely imbricate to rather distant. Peduncles up to 10 cm. long, clad in appressed foliaceous bracts. Capitula 8-15, congested into dense glomerules up to 25 mm. diam., subtended by up to 20 densely woolly lvs up to 2 cm. long, forming a conspicuous white ray. Phyll. linear-lanceolate, c. 5 mm. long, scarious with basal stiffening, toothed and ciliate towards acute apex, ± woolly on back towards tip. Achenes c. 1 mm. long, pappus-hairs c. 4 mm. long.

DIST.: Subalpine to alpine rocky ground and rock-crevices. N.: from lat. 38° southwards. S.: Tasman, St. Arnaud and Raglan Mountains, Wairau Mountains and Bounds Range; Mount Peel (Canterbury). A specimen in the Armstrong Herb. is labelled as from "Hurunui River, J.B.A., 1869".

FL. 11-3. FT. 1-4.