Classification
Kingdom: Plantae (2715)
Phylum: Tracheophyta (2630)
Class: Magnoliopsida (2217)
Order: Asterales (229)
Family: Asteraceae (228)(family description)
Genus: Metalasia (1)
Epithet: muricata (L.) R.Br. (3)
Synonyms: Gnaphalium fasciculatum Lam., Gnaphalium muricatum Thunb., Gnaphalium umbellatum Schrank, Helichrysum saturejifolium P.J.Bergius, Metalasia cristata DC., Metalasia cymosa Cass., Metalasia ericoides Sieber, Metalasia phylicoides D.Don, Metalasia umbellata Cass.
cristata => comb-like, crested
cymosa => bearing cymes, more or less flattened flower heads blooming from the middle out
muricata => full of rough, short, sharp points
umbellata => having the inflorescence in umbels or umbrella form
umbellatum => having the inflorescence in umbels or umbrella form