It does not look at all like variabilis. Could be a significant sighting of a new species, so take it into the botanic gardens? I presume you have a permit.
This looks like the Craspedia variabilis http://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sightings/Details/3382038 identified by Michael Mulvaney. What features should I look for? I knew the back of the flowerhead was important.
The main reason I was doubtful was that unlike variabilis, where mature flower heads are almost spherical, these are quite flat. The other chsaracter that distinguishes jamesii, which normally occurs at much higher altitipudes, is the bracts on the back of the flower head - broader and with a broad chaffy margin in variabilis, or narrower with a narrow chaffy margin in jamesii. The top of the flower stalk is quite hairy in both. In a couple of even higher altitude species, the top of the flower stalk is almost hairless. I would be extremely surprised to see them in Canberra.
Thanks Betty. I have looked at some of the other sightings and not all of them are globular even when the individual flowers seem mature. Maybe it is the general dryness which seems to affect size as well..
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