Helichrysum stoechas subsp. barrelieri

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 129

(b) Subsp. barrelieri (Ten.) Nyman , Consp. 381 (1879)

( Gnaphalium barrelieri Ten. ; incl. H. siculum (Sprengel) Boiss. , non Jordan & Fourr., H. scandens Guss. ):

Leaves usually less than 20 mm, usually broadly linear to narrowly spathulate, not or scarcely aromatic. Inflorescence compact. Inner involucral bracts rarely more than twice as long as the acute outer bracts. From Sicilia eastwards to Turkey.

Usually less robust and more densely tomentose than subsp. (a) and rarely more than 30 cm. Small caespitose variants from Kriti and Greece have spathulate lower leaves only 3-5 mm ( H. decumbens var. spathulatum Raulin ). Plants from S. Spain, Islas Baléares and S. France which have been named H. decumbens Camb. , Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris) 14: 271 (1827), or H. cespitosum DC. , Prodr. 6: 182 (1838), non (Lam.) DC., resemble subsp. (b) in not being aromatic and often also in their leaves and capitula. Their taxonomic status requires investigation.