Ozothamnus alpinus
Alpine EverlastingCompact shrub to 1(–1.5) m high; branchlets densely cottony, viscid. Leaves spreading, narrow elliptic, 4–10(–13) mm long, 2–3 mm wide, glabrous or glabrescent above, densely cottony and yellow-resinous beneath, apex obtuse, margins recurved; petioles 1–2 mm long. Inflorescences hemispherical, 18–24 mm diam. Capitula 25–60, dull-yellow to magenta (particularly in bud), cylindric, 5–6.5 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide; involucral bracts 15–19, innermost spathulate, with lamina elliptic, 1.5–2.5 mm long, spreading, flat, white, margin entire; receptacle bracts 0–3; female florets absent; hermaphrodite florets 3–6. Cypsela cylindric, 1–1.5 mm long, densely papillose; pappus bristles 3.5–4 mm long, apex tapering. Flowers Feb.–Mar.
HSF, HNF, VAlp. Also NSW, ACT. Restricted to the higher mountains of the state (e.g. Mts Bogong, Feathertop, Loch and Hotham). An outlying, pre-1900 specimen labelled 'Mt Wellington' is of dubious origin. Occurs in open and closed heaths and shrubland.
Puttock, C.F. (1999). Ozothamnus. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 732–742. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
