Plecostachys serpyllifolia
(P.J.Bergius) Hilliard & B.L.Burtt Petite LiquoriceSpreading, scrambling-ascending, rather dense shrub-like herbs to c. 1 m high and wide. Stems white-tomentose. Leaves broad-elliptic, 5-10 mm long, 3-6 mm wide, flat or slightly concave above, margins plane or slightly undulate, grey-tomentos above, becoming glabrescent, remaining densely white-tomentose beneath. Inflorescences c. hemispherical, 2-4 cm wide; capitula numerous, involucral bracts in 2 or 3 series, white-tomentose abaxially, the outermost c. 2 mm long, the innermost c. 5 mm long, often purplish near base, with a spreading white, papery limb c. 1 mm long. Cypselas more or less cylindric, c. 0.7 mm long; pappus c. 3 mm long. Flowers spring.
GipP, OtP, EGL. Also naturalised in New South Wales. Native to South Africa, extensively naturalised on some Californian coasts. Known in Victoria only from near-coastal scrub and sedgeland at Lake Bunga (east of Lakes Entrance), and from Tootgarook Swamp at Boneo. A sizeable population was noted at Lake Bunga in 2020, whereas at Boneo only a single plant was found in 2021. Attempts at eradication have been undertaken.
Occasionally grown for ornament.