Helichrysum, Miller, 1754

Singh, Sunit, Mehta, J. P. & Kumar, Anant, 2024, Helichrysum emodi (Gnaphalieae: Asteraceae), a new species from the Indian Himalaya, Phytotaxa 666 (1), pp. 73-78 : 75-76

Key to Indian species of Helichrysum

1. Plant glabrous; heads large, ca. 3.5 cm across ............................................................................................. Helichrysum bracteatum

- Plant clothed, with cottony tomentum; heads small, up to 5 mm across............................................................................................2

2. Stems slender, tufted; leaves 1-nerved ...............................................................................................................................................3

- Stem thick, not tufted; leaves many nerved........................................................................................................................................4

3. Leaf base narrow; outer phyllaries ovate, irregularly toothed at tip; female florets present; pappus bristles 8–11, connate at base... ........................................................................................................................................................................ Helichrysum cutchicum

- Leaf base subcordate; outer phyllaries obovate, entire at tip; female florets absent; pappus bristles always 5 and free..................... .............................................................................................................................................................................. Helichrysum emodi

4. Leaves scattered; achenes scabrid .............................................................................................................. Helichrysum buddleioides

- Basal leaves in rosette or clustered at base; achenes scaly.................................................................................................................5

5. Appressed cinnamomeus woolly herbs; leaves recurved at tip, nerves prominently impressed......................... Helichrysum wightii

- Floccose woolly herbs; leaves not recurved at tip, nerves obscure.......................................................... Helichrysum perlanigerum