Common name: Smooth Sunray
Rhodanthe laevis (A.Gray) Paul G.Wilson APNI* Synonyms: Helipterum laeve (A.Gray) Benth. APNI*
Description: Slender erect almost glabrous annual to 12 cm high.
Leaves linear, 10–20 mm long, 0.2–1 mm wide.
Heads in small clusters, terminal on branches; heads cylindrical, c. 3.5 mm long, not radiant; involucral bracts straw-coloured to pale brown, glossy, glabrous. Florets c. 9, bisexual. Corollas narrow-cylindrical, very shortly 5-toothed.
Achenes narrow-obovate, c. 1 mm long, sparsely and minutely hispid; pappus bristles filiform, equal to corolla, falling individually.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in mallee and mulga communities on shallow, often stony or sandy soils in sheltered sites; south from Girilambone, also recorded near Mootwingee.
NSW subdivisions: CWS, NWP, SWP, ?NFWP
Other Australian states: Vic. W.A. S.A.
Text by Paul G. Wilson 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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