Flora of New Zealand Series

Gnaphalium (Helichrysum) youngii Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 152.

Psychrophyton youngii Beauverd loc. cit. 1910, 230, f. 11.

Helichrysum youngii Kirk Stud. Fl. 1899, 310.

Type locality: "Mountains above Lake Hawea, 6000'". Type: K, Haast.

Branches tufted, forming soft patches up to c. 10 cm. diam. and 5 cm. tall. Lvs densely imbricate, spreading at tips, 3·5-6·5 × 2-2.5 mm., obovate-oblong, 3-nerved, densely clad on both surfaces in soft buff to white tomentum. Capitula up to 1·5 cm. diam.; inner phyll. linear-oblong, acute, with white radiating tips up to 5 mm. long. Florets 25-50 or more, ♀ c. = perfect. Achenes up to 0.75 mm. long, pubescent to nearly glab.; pappus-hairs up to 4 mm. long, rigid, slightly thickened above.

DIST.: S. Subalpine to alpine rocky places from lat. 42° to 45°.

For florets Hooker, loc. cit., gives "about 12"; Kirk, loc. cit., "12-18 or more"; Cheeseman, Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 973, "50-70; about 20-30 females". The generic status is uncertain.