Helichrysum sulphureo-fuscum Baker

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Habit

Perennial (tussock) herb, with decumbent and erect stems to 0.5 m high from a woody rootstock; stems simple or branched, thinly pubescent.

Leaves

Leaves green above, whitish beneath, sessile, linear, the rosette leaves 3–7 cm long, 0.2–0.4 cm wide, base almost sheathing, apex attenuate, glabrous above, white-tomentellous beneath; cauline leaves similar but gradually becoming smaller, the distal ones 1 cm long.

Capitulum

Capitula 11–20 mm long, heterogamous, terminal and solitary, but dense distal branching may give impression of compound inflorescence; stalks of individual capitula 1–5 mm long; phyllaries pale orange-yellow with blackish-green or dark brown tips (the outer) or bright to pale yellow (the inner), 5–6-seriate, ovate to lanceolate, 3–14 mm long, stereome glandular; receptacle honeycombed.

Florets

Florets (orange-)yellow; outer florets many, filiform from a wider base, 1.6–2 mm long, lobes 0.2–0.3 mm long and glandular, style 1.8–2.3 mm long; inner florets many, tube cylindric, 1.9–2.4 mm long, lobes 0.3–0.4 mm long, anthers ± 1.2 mm long, style 2.3–3 mm long.

Fruits

Achenes 0.6–0.8 mm long, glabrous; pappus yellowish, 1.7–2.7 mm long, the tips dilated, falling separately.

Habitat

Montane grassland; 1600–2900 m

Distribution

T4 T7 T8