- ≡ Xeranthemum bellidioides G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 55 (1786)
- ≡ Helichrysum bellidioides (G.Forst.) Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4. 1911 (1800)
- ≡ Gnaphalium bellidioides (G.Forst.) Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 137 (1853)
- = Helichrysum prostratum Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. I. (Fl. Antarct.) Part I, 30 (1844)
- ≡ Gnaphalium prostratum (Hook.f.) Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 137 (1853)
- ≡ Anaphalis prostrata (Hook.f.) F.Muell., Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria 1: 8-10 (1889)
- ≡ Helichrysum bellidioides var. prostratum (Hook.f.) Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 309 (1899)
- = Helichrysum bellidioides var. erectum Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 309 (1899)
- = Helichrysum bellidioides var. gracile Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 717, 972 (1961)
Plants prostrate. Stem 1.0-3.0 mm diameter. Branches 15-20 cm long, attached to the soil substrate by roots along the branches; branchlets red-brown toward their apices, internodes 4-5 mm. Leaves patent, on prostrate stems twisted to face upwards, 5.0-17.7 mm long, 2.3-6.2 mm wide, obovate; apiculus 0.5 mm long, dark red; upper surface sparsely hairy or glabrous; veins entering leaf one; margins plane. Flowering stems 37-105 mm long, red-brown, densely hairy, transition to scape leaves abrupt; scape leaves narrowly ovate, 7.5 mm long, 0.9 mm wide. Capitulum solitary, 12-23 mm diameter in dried specimens. Receptacle 1.8-3.3 mm diameter, conical, 1.2-2.2 mm high. Outer involucral bracts 7.0-11.0 mm long, 1.1-1.8 mm wide, gap brown. Inner involucral bracts 6.3-8.4 mm long, 0.7-1.5 mm wide. Hermaphrodite florets 4.2- 4.8 mm long; corolla 3.1-4.2 mm long, 0.55- 0.85 mm wide, lobes 0.3-0.5 mm long; anthers 2.8 mm long, 0.22 mm wide, apices 0.44 mm long, tails 0.4 mm long; style 3.6 mm long; style arms 0.4 mm long; pappus hairs 21-27 per floret, 3.4- 4.2 mm long, apical cells rounded. Female florets 3.2-4.0 mm long; corolla 2.5-3.7 mm long, 0.18 mm wide; style 3.7 mm long, style arms 0.37- 0.44 mm long; pappus hairs 19-28 per floret, 2.8- 4.0 mm long, apical cells rounded. Achenes 0.80-0.92 mm long, 0.20-0.34 mm diameter, glabrous. Florets 106-212, female florets 40-68% of total.
[Reproduced from Glenny (1997, New Zealand J. Bot. 35: 451-477) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]