Capitula solitary on bracted scapes (occ. forms may be found with branched scapes). Phyll. us. ∞, imbricate in several to occ. rather many series, narrow; receptacle pitted, sts strongly so, ± convex. Ray-florets pistillate, us. in 1 row, often ∞; limb white, rarely flushed lilac to pale mauve or very pale yellow. Disk-florets perfect, ∞, corolla funnelform to tubular, 5-toothed, yellow (purple in C. vernicosa, or apparently very rarely very pale yellow). Anthers ± sagittate, tails, if present, very short. Style-arms flattened, apically appendaged. Achenes us. ± narrow-cylindric and ribbed, hairy to glab.; pappus of us. ∞ unequal strongly to weakly barbellate hairs. Perennial herbs or subshrubs of diverse habit; lvs densely tufted or imbricate along branches; us. tomentose, at least on lower surface, petioled or lamina passing almost directly into a persistent sheath. Some 58 spp. endemic to N.Z. and a few in Australia and Tasmania. Type sp. C. longifolia of Australia.
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