Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asterales Link
Family
Compositae Giseke
Genus
Vellereophyton Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Vellereophyton dealbatum (Thunb.) Hilliard & B.L.Burtt, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 82: 210 (1981)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Gnaphalium dealbatum Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 149 (1800)
  • = Gnaphalium candidissimum Lam., Encycl. [J. Lamarck & al.] 2, 754 (1788) nom. illeg.
  • = Gnaphalium maculatum Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 149 (1800)
  • = Gnaphalium micranthum Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 149 (1800)
  • = Gnaphalium carroënse Schrank (1824)
 Description

Annual herb; stems densely white-tomentose, 1-many, ascending to erect, 10–50 cm tall. Lvs all cauline at flowering, apetiolate, densely white- tomentose on both surfaces but somewhat denser on lower, narrow-oblanceolate, cuneate, acute and mucronate, flat, 20–45–(60) × 3–6 mm; uppermost lvs smaller and sometimes elliptic-oblong. Capitula 1–2 mm diam., many to numerous in dense, mostly terminal, corymbose clusters; subtending lvs not exceeding clusters at least at fruiting. Middle involucral bracts tomentose outside, 2–2.5 mm long, star-like at fruiting; stereome narrow-oblong, green with upper margin usually purple; lamina ovate, obtuse, milky white, radiating; outer bracts shorter, with lamina reduced or O; inner bracts slightly longer, less hairy. Disc tinged yellow or purple. Achenes ellipsoid-cylindric, minutely papillate, c. 0.4 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Oct.–Apr.

 Bibliography
Hilliard, O. M.; Burtt, B. L. 1981: Some generic concepts in Compositae -- Gnaphaliinae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 82: 181–232.
Lamarck, J.B.A.P.M. de 1786–1788: Encyclopédie Méthodique. Botanique. Vol. 2. Panckoucke, Paris.
Thunberg, C.P. 1794–1800: Prodromus Plantarum Capensium, quas in Promontorio Bonae Spei Africes, annis 1772-1775, collegit Carol. Pet. Thunberg. Edman, Uppsala.