Rhodanthe pygmaea

Ascending to erect annual to c. 15 cm high, branches slightly cottony. Leaves alternate, c. linear, 5–20 mm long, c. 0.5 mm wide, glabrous or with sparse cottony and minute glandular hairs. Capitula heterogamous, c. cylindrical, 7–10 mm long, subsessile in dense leafy clusters. Involucral bracts several-seriate, usually with a few scattered, cottony hairs, outer bracts short, pale yellow-brown, innermost bracts mainly hyaline but usually with short, white laminae to c. 1.5 mm long. Florets 3–6, the outer bisexual, the inner male. Cypselas c. 3 mm long, densely silky-hairy; pappus persistent, of c. 20–30 plumose bristles. Flowers Aug.–Oct.