It is an erect herbaceousbiennial up to 70 cm (28 in) tall, branching from the base. Leaves are oblanceolate to lanceolate and covered in hairs like that of the edelweiss. The leaves can survive freezing in winter. Flowers are cream, yellow, white, or pink.[3] Seeds have a pappus which lets them float over long distances.
In 2004, an investigation into the phylogenetic relationships of Helichrysum and related genera found this species to have arisen within Helichrysum. As a result of this, Reichenbach's long-forgotten name for this species was resurrected.[6] A later study suggested that all the sampled Pseudognaphalium species arose within Helichrysum as did Anaphalis, Achyrocline and Humeocline.[7] Subsequent phylogenetic studies showed that Helichrysum, Anaphalis and Pseudognaphalium formed a clade, but retained these genera.[8]
This species is so widely distributed that it is unclear where it is native and where naturalised. In general it is considered naturalised in North and South America, and native to every other continent except Antarctica.[10] It grows in meadows, wastelands, and edges of forests. Its rosettes are occasionally mistaken for edelweiss.
In Vietnam, the plant is used as a food ingredient, such as in the rice cake banh khuc. It has also been used in traditional medicine of the region, as a diuretic, hemostatic, antipyretic, for the treatment of cough, and for pain relief.[11]
^Galbany-Casals, M.; et al. (2004). "Phylogenetic relationships in the Mediterranean Helichrysum (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) based on nuclear rDNA ITS sequence data". Australian Systematic Botany. 17 (3): 241–253. doi:10.1071/SB03031.
^Galbany-Casals, M.; et al. Phylogenetic relationships in Helichrysum (Compositae: Gnaphalieae) and related genera: Incongruence between nuclear and plastid phylogenies, biogeographic and morphological patterns, and implications for generic delimitation. 2014. Taxon. 63(3):608-624
^Schmidt-Lebuhn, Alexander N. & Bovill, Jessica (2021), "Phylogenomic data reveal four major clades of Australian Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae)", Taxon, 70 (5): 1020–1034, doi:10.1002/tax.12510
^Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN978-1845337315.