About Helichrysum luteoalbum (L.) Rchb.
Helichrysum luteoalbum (L.) Rchb. is an erect herbaceous biennial that grows up to 70 cm (28 in) tall, branching from its base. Its leaves are oblanceolate to lanceolate, and covered in hairs with a texture similar to edelweiss leaves. The leaves are able to survive freezing temperatures during winter. Its flowers can be cream, yellow, white, or pink. Seeds of this species have a pappus that allows them to float over long distances. This species is so broadly distributed that it is not clear which regions it is native to and which regions it has been naturalized in. It is generally accepted that this species is naturalized in North America and South America, and native to all continents except Antarctica. Helichrysum luteoalbum grows in meadows, wastelands, and forest edges. Its rosettes are occasionally misidentified as edelweiss. In Vietnam, this plant is used as a food ingredient, including in the rice cake banh khuc. It has also been used in the region’s traditional medicine as a diuretic, hemostatic, and antipyretic, and to treat cough and relieve pain.
