Helichrysum stoechas, (L.) Moench

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 129

5. H. stoechas (L.) Moench , Meth. 575 (1794).

Stems (5-)10-50(-100) cm. Leaves (3-)10-25(-50) mm, narrowly linear to linear-spathulate, white-tomentose to lanate, sometimes glabrescent above, rarely also beneath. Inflorescence 1•5—3(—6) cm across; involucre 4-6 mm in diameter, globose to broadly ovoid bracts laxly imbricate, eglandular or nearly so; outer shortest and widest, scarious, glabrous or somewhat lanate at base; middle narrower and coriaceous in lower half, abruptly widened and scarious above; inner narrowest. Achenes with numerous shining white glands. 2/7 = 28. Dry places. S. & W. Europe, northwards to N. W. France. Al BI Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si Tu.

Very variable, from dwarf, caespitose, short-leaved to more or less erect, long-leaved variants up to 100 cm. Many local taxa have been described and named but for the most part they intergrade and seem not to merit subspecific rank. The following subspecies are recognized provisionally.