Helichrysum milfordiae half open flowerheads

Somewhat open but not fully spreading yet, the bracts of the Helichrysum milfordiae flowerheads are erect here and white inside, still colourful at their tips on the outside. The inner rows of bracts are the tallest around the flat disc of yellow florets in the centre of each head. The disc florets start to open from the perimeter to the centre. They all fade to brown when fruiting begins.

The nonflowering leaf rosettes are blue grey. The flowering ones have added green grey upper leaves as well as stem leaves on the short, erect stems that hold up the heads.

Once flowering is over, every successful disc floret progresses to a single seed fruit, an achene. The achene is smooth, attached to a pappus of barbed bristles that plays a role when wind disperses the seeds (Manning, 2009; iNaturalist; www.keys.lucidcentral.org).