Erect subshrubby herb to c. 3 m high; branchlets with dense, erect gland-tipped hairs, with or without cottony hairs. Leaves obovate-oblanceolate, 10–30 cm long, 2–7 cm wide, both surfaces with scattered to moderately dense erect gland-tipped hairs, apex acuminate or acute. Inflorescences c. 35–60 cm long, usually drooping. Capitula 200–500, brown to crimson, cylindric, 6–8 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide; involucral bracts 12–17, innermost with lamina narrow-triangular, erect, flat, hyaline; margin entire; florets 2–4 (occasionally male). Cypsela obloid, 1–1.5 mm long, sparsely papillose; pappus absent Flowers Jan.–Mar.
Wim, GipP, Gold, CVU, GGr, EGL, EGU, HSF, Strz, HFE. Also NSW. In Victoria largely confined to eastern lowlands (but with a very disjunct occurrence in the Grampians) where usually a pioneer species of flood-prone river banks or wettish forests regenerating after fire.
Source:
Puttock, C.F. (1999). Calomeria. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 746–746. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
