Cassinia lepschii Orchard APNI*
Description: Erect or spreading shrub 0.7–2.0 m high; young stems densely white tomentose with cottony hairs ± smaller, occasionally gland-tipped hairs.
Leaves terete, variable size, 7–18 mm long, c. 1mm wide, margins revolute almost to midrib, tip softly acute ± small mucro; upper surface mid-green, with sparse scabrous hairs particularly on margins, sunken midrib; lower surface densely white tomentose including prominent midrib.
Inflorescence a flat or rounded corymb with 25–400 heads, each 4.5–5 mm long; involucral bracts imbricate, cartilaginous with opaque white tips, outer bracts with hyaline bases, inner bracts with opaque cream bases. Florets 4–5 per head, cream.
Achenes deep red-brown, 1–1.3 mm long, longitudinally 4–6 ribbed, weak apical rim; pappus of 18–21 bristles, 3.3–3.5mm long, persistent but easily detached as a ring.
Flowering: March–June
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in dry sclerophyll forest, woodland and shrubland on sandy soils over igneous rock; chiefly north from Hillgrove to Guyra, Backwater and Glen Innes and west to Torrington NP and Single NP.
NSW subdivisions: NT
Other Australian states: Qld
Flowers appear bright white from a distance
Text by K. Ismay Taxon concept: Orchard, A.E. (2005) A revision of Cassinia (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) in Australia. 4 Section Costatae. Australian Systematic Botany 18, 455-471.
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