Helichrysum 'Helping Hand'

Helichrysum elatum 'Helping Hand'

syn. Helichrysum aff. elatum (Mount Warning form)
[see note on genus name below]

ORIGIN: Helichrysum 'Helping Hand' is a form of Helichrysum elatum. The name is in recognition of the work done by volunteers in public institutions around Australia and it will be first released commercially in the International Year of the Volunteer 2001. It is one of several compact forms of the species growing in the ranges along the NSW and Queensland border and around Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast (see diagnosis below). The applicant is the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The form has been in cultivation at ANBG since 1996. Specimen received by ACRA September 2000

DESCRIPTION: Shrub ca. 100x100cm. Upper branches tomentose. Leaves lanceolate, 5-7cm long x 2-3cm wide; apex acute/acuminate; margins entire; upper leaf surface grey green, tomentose; lower surface grey green/whitish, tomentose; leaf veins on upper surface ą obscured by tomentum. Flower bracts glossy white, disc yellow. Flower head diameter ca. 4cm. Inflorescences in terminal leafy corymbs of up to 6 heads. Outer involucral bracts to 20mm long, reducing in size outwards. Inner involucral bracts lacerate. (Note: The description and diagnosis have been compiled from cultivated plants).

DIAGNOSIS: The primary distinguishing features from the other compact forms of H. elatum are the leaf upper surface tomentum and lack of visible veins, the larger head diameter and longer bract laminas.

Character	*H. elatum*	H. elatum (Jervis Bay compact form)	H. aff. elatum (Mt Merino form)	*H. aff. elatum* (Point Lookout form)**	H. 'Helping Hand'
height	60 - 200cm	50 -60cm	to 100 cm	to 100cm	to 100cm
leaf length	8-12cm	6-8cm	3.5-7cm	5-10cm	5-7cm
leaf width	15-30mm	12-20mm	15-40mm	20-35mm	20-30mm
leaf apex	acute/acuminate	acute/acuminate	acute to +-obtuse	acute/acuminate	acute/acuminate
leaf margins	entire or crenulate	entire or crenulate	entire	entire	entire
leaf upper surface	mid green glabrescent ą woolly ciliate	mid green glabrescent ą woolly ciliate	mid green (137A) glabrescent ą woolly ciliate	grey green (191A) woolly ciliate to tomentose	grey green (191A-B) tomentose
leaf veins (upper surface)	veins visible	veins visible	veins visible (3 prominent)	visible through tomentum (3 prominent)	ą obscured by tomentum
head diameter	3-5cm	2-3cm	1.5-2cm	ca 2cm	ca.4cm
inflorescence	terminal leafy corymbs 4-9 heads	terminal leafy corymbs 4-11 heads	terminal leafy corymbs 2-3 heads	terminal leafy corymbs3-4 heads	terminal leafy corymbs 2-6 heads
outer involucral bracts	long papery laminas, reducing in size outwards		long papery laminas, reducing in size outwards, 12-15mm long	long papery laminas, reducing in size outwards, 12-15mm long	long papery laminas, reducing in size outwards, up to 20mm long
Flowering time (relative)	late winter - spring (early)	late winter / spring (early)	spring - early summer (late)	spring (mid-season)	spring (mid-season)
Seed maturity	late spring/early summer	early summer?	early summer	late spring/early summer	late spring/early summer
Natural habitat	sandstone ridges	sandstone ridges	basalt peaks and ridges	basalt peaks and ridges	basalt peaks and ridges

COLOUR CODE: (RHS 1995)

Leaf upper surface 191A-B

Leaf lower surface 191D

Involucral bracts glossy white (no RHS equivalent)

CULTIVATION: Propagate by cutting or from seed (it grows true to type). Treat as a biennial. Plant in well drained soil and allow the foliage to dry between watering. Susceptible to Verticillium and soil borne fungi and bud and leaf caterpillars.

ACRA REFERENCES: ACC910; ACRA910.

ACCEPTED FOR REGISTRATION ON: 12 August 2002

The 'Helichrysum elatum' group [includes H. elatum, H. boormanii and H. adenophorum] needs generic revision. We now know that the genus Helichrysum does not occur in Australia (Anderberg 1992; Wilson op.cit.), and new generic combinations have been made in Lawrencella, Bellida, Schoenia, Argentipallium Bracteantha, Anemocarpa and Leucochrysum. Wilson has not yet recommended new name combinations for this group of [remaining] taxa at this stage..