Ascending to erect annual 6–45 cm high. Leaves mainly alternate, but the lowermost apparently opposite, mostly oblanceolate, sometimes c. linear or lanceolate, 0.5–6.3 cm long, 2–5 mm wide, tomentose, midrib distinct on the upper surface, uppermost leaves with a hyaline apex. Compound heads c. globose to broadly ovoid, 0.6–1.2 cm long, with 50–100 capitula; general involucre barely developed. Capitular bracts 7–10, flat to conduplicate, 1.7–3.5 mm long, mainly hyaline but the uppermost portion constricted and yellow to yellow-orange or white, with long hairs from near apex of midrib; florets 12–22 per capitulum. Cypselas subobconical; pappus bristles 6–8, plumose throughout their length. Flowers Oct.–Mar.
LoM, MuM, Wim, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, Gold, CVU, NIS. Also SA, Qld, NSW. Uncommon in Victoria, usually occurring on heavy soils in open woodlands, grassland and saltbush communities subject to inundation.
Source:
Short, P.S. (1999). Calocephalus. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 809–811. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
