Groundsel Bush

Baccharis halimifolia Groundsel Bush

DESCRIPTION

Perennial woody shrub 1–3m high with striate stems and deep taproot. Rhombic, elliptic or broad-obovate leaves 2–5cm long by 1–2.5cm wide, apex acute to obtuse, margins coarsely toothed in upper half; upper leaves are smaller and entire.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT

Clustered pale yellow (male) to white (female) flowers forming terminal panicles. Female heads are 3–5mm wide, male 3mm wide. Involucral bracts are glabrous or fringed with hairs towards the apex. Glabrous achenes 1–1.7mm long with white pappus (of female florets 10–12mm long, of male 3–4mm long). Brown seeds 3mm long are tufted with white hairs.

HABITAT AND RANGE

Swampy areas, saltmarsh, wetlands, pasture and disturbed sites in coastal areas from Sawtell New South Wales to Mount Wheeler near Yeppoon in Queensland.