This little annual is not commonly found, restricting itself to rather barren, sandy places such as gravelly tracks, forestry roads and rocky places. It could be overlooked quite easily as it is really quite small, standing 5–15cm high. Its skinny stems and buds are covered in a greyish down and its tiny, yellowish flowers, which are in angled clusters of 2-8, are barely visible to the naked eye. The greyish leaves are pressed to the stems. This is a native member of the Asteraceae or Daisy family, which is found occasionally in Northern Ireland and in the south-east. It flowers from June to September. Previously known as Filago minima.
I was shown this little species by BSBI Vice County Recorder for Kilkenny, Roger Goodwillie, in an old disused quarry in Co Kilkenny in June 2015.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
