Common name: Elachanth
Elachanthus pusillus F.Muell. APNI* 
Description: Annual herb usually 4–8 cm high, stems and leaves finely hairy; stems decumbent to ascending, branched.
Leaves narrow-linear, 3–14 mm long, < 1 mm wide, ± apiculate.
Heads cup shaped, 4–7 mm diam.; involucral bracts oblong to oblanceolate, 4–5 mm long, apex obtuse, subglabrous, fimbriate, ± purple at apex. Outer florets 7–14; achene obconic, c. 2 mm long, compressed, densely hairy with stiff brown or white hairs; pappus scales 12–15, lanceolate, c. 3 mm long, finely toothed, straw-coloured. Inner florets 3- or 4-toothed; achene sterile, filiform; pappus of 3 or 4 narrow, barbellate scales, c. 1.5 mm long.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in mallee, woodland and shrubland; chiefly in western areas south from Broken Hill district.
NSW subdivisions: NWS, CWS, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Vic. W.A. S.A.
Text by E. A. Brown
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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