Baccharis indica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 861. 1753.

Shrubs, erect, to 2 m tall, sulcate-striate, much branched, branches finely shortly crisp hairy, later glabrate. Leaves sessile or very shortly petiolate, obovate, 2.3-8 × 1-4 cm, thickly papery, abaxially loosely puberulent to subglabrous, adaxially minutely puberulent, veinlets distinct, base attenuate, margin acutely dentate, apex acute to mucronate. Capitula narrowly cylindric to campanulate, 5-6 mm in diam. when fresh, to 9-10 mm in diam. in dried specimen, 6-7 mm, in dense terminal and axillary corymbs; peduncle 0-10 mm. Involucre ovate, 4-6 mm; phyllaries 6- or 7-seriate, outer ones 2-2.5 × ca. 1.5 mm, margins ciliolate, apex obtuse, inner lanceolate to linear, 4-6 × 0.25-1 mm, margins entire, apex obtuse. Receptacle densely hirsutulous. Marginal florets numerous; corolla 3-5 mm; style greatly exserted; achenes brown, cylindric, with 5-7 pale ribs, slightly curved, ca. 1 × 0.3 mm, subglabrous; pappus white, ca. 5 mm, slightly exceeding corolla. Central florets 2-7; corolla 4.5-5.5 mm, 5-lobed, lobes glandular; anthers and style greatly exserted; achenes vestigial; pappus white, as long as corolla. 2n = 20, 60.

Brackish marshes and other saline habitats, widespread along the coast; low elevations. Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan [Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam; N Australia, Pacific islands (Hawaii)].