Helichrysum cymosum subsp. cymosum leaves

Helichrysum cymosum subsp. cymosum leaves in shade and dew-covered can be deep green on top with little of its sparse silkiness to be discerned. The white-velvety lower surface is shielded by the margins being rolled under.

The sunken midrib is unchanged from base to the bluntly pointed to rounded tip. The stalkless leaf adheres to the stem for a short distance before spreading abruptly. The leaves become about 15 cm long and 2 mm to 5 mm wide.

The photo was taken in the veld next to Kirstenbosch during November. Only subsp. cymosum is found in the Western Cape (also in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal). Subsp. calvum occurs more to the east and inland as far as the Free State and Mpumalanga.

Neither subspecies is considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; http://redlist.sanbi.org).