Nuytsia 8: 3 (1998) - FloraBase

Paul G. Wilson, Helipterum: Part 1
Annual erect herb, somewhat woolly and with scattered minute globular reddish brown glandular
hairs, single stemmed. Leaves numerous, filiform. Inflorescence a terminal corymb. Capitula homogamous,
shortly pedunculate, radiant. Involucre broadly turbinate c. 5 mm high; bracts c. 4-seriate; outer and
intermediate bracts scarious, sparsely woolly with a thick narrow-oblong stereome; innermost bracts
similar but with a short oblong white limb. Florets 8-12, bisexual; corolla narrow-tubular, slightly broader
above, sparsely glandular puberulous; lobes 5 short, glabrous within, sparsely glandular puberulous
outside, cells of inner epidermis narrow-oblong, vascular strands passing to apex of lobes. Anther
appendage broad-ovate, thick, cells unevenly oblong; anther tails stout, branched, equal to collar. Style
apex truncate, vascular strand thick and extending to just below apex. Achene barrel-shaped with a
truncate apex, moderately hirtellous with slender duplex hairs; carpopodium thick; pericarp crustaceous,
rough; testa papery, free from pericarp, vascular strand passing over apex of seed; vascular strands of
pericarp and of testa in lateral position (in relation to cotyledons). Pappus equal to corolla; bristles
filamentous, shortly plumose, shortly united at base, caducous.
Note. A number of features make this monotypic section unique in the Helichrysum complex; these are:
1) the numerous cauline, lanate, filiform leaves, 2) the short, stout, branched anther tails, and 3) the thick
anther appendage with unevenly shaped oblong cells. Its position in relation to the other sections of
Rhodanthe and to genera in the Casssinia complex is unclear. It is likely that this section should be
recognised as a distinct genus.
Rhodanthe polyphylla (F.Muell.) Paul G. Wilson, comb. nov.
Helipterum polyphyllum F. Muell., Fragm. 1:35(1858). - Argyrocome polyphylla (F. Muell.) Kuntze,
Revis. Gen. Pl. 1:309(1891). Type citation: 'In planitiebus basalticis a fluvio Brisbane usque ad montes
Peak Range. - In tractu Kent’s Plains. W. Hill.’ Lectotype (here chosen): Brisbane River, Peak Range,
F. Mueller (MEL 109740); syntype: Moreton Bay, Kents Plains, anon.(MEL 109757).
Distribution. Eastern Queensland and north-east New South Wales.
Cephalipterum A. Gray
Cephalipterum A. Gray, Hooker’s J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 4:271(1852). Type: Cephalipterum drummondii
A. Gray
Annual erect herb, indumentum of curled filiform hairs septate at base with glandular stipitate
hairs below capitula. Leaves cauline and basal, linear to obovate. Capitula heterogamous, very
shortly pedunculate in dense terminal umbels. Involucre cup-shaped; bracts multiseriate, scarious,
the innermost with a white or yellow lamina. Receptacle small, conical, glabrous. Florets numerous;
1-2 outer bisexual, remainder male. Corolla narrow-urceolate, shortly 5-lobed, glabrous, lobes
smooth within; vascular strands terminating in tube. Anthers: appendix ovate with narrow-oblong
cells; collar short and broadly expanded at base; tails weak; style apex truncate, somewhat broader
than style branch, prominently papillose. Achene broadly compressed obovoid with a broad-circular
apex that has a hard raised lip on the abaxial margin; sterile achenes hard, broad-obovoid, the apical
surface vertical; attachment small, carpopodium absent; indumentum (fertile and sterile achenes) of
dense white clavate helically coiled duplex hairs on abaxial surface, of woolly clawed simple hairs
on adaxial surface; pericarp thick and hard; testa thinly coriaceous closely covered all over with broad-
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