Helichrysum foetidum clusters of disciform flowerheads

It is not called muishondblaar in Afrikaans (mongoose leaf) for nothing! As the specific epithet foetidum also indicates, Helichrysum foetidum does not have a pleasant smell.

The attractive clusters of yellowish flowerheads herald the end of the biennial plants two year life cycle. It flowers at any time but winter, probably deserving the more flattering common name of yellow everlasting, if observed from far enough.

There are eight or nine rows of involucral bracts around the flat-topped disc of tiny florets. The bracts are imbricate, i.e. they have regularly arranged, overlapping edges, as roof tiles or fish scales.

The leaves are broad, oblong to lanceolate, clasping the stem. There are gland-tipped hairs on the plant, while the lower leaf surfaces are densely white-woolly (Manning, 2007; www.plantzafrica.com).