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Xerochrysum bracteatum* (syn. Bracteantha bracteata)
Seeding Xerochrysum bracteatum - this is how it's done, and the wind will finish the job! The species has flourished since I was last here in March. Commonly known as "golden everlasting, common everlasting, or strawflower", it's a member of the family Asteraceae, and is an Australian native. The Latin name "bracteatum" refers to the prominent and numerous, dry, papery bracts, which are often incorrectly referred to as petals, and the overall appearance is that of a large, single "flower" with the bracts as the "petals". However, well over a hundred true flowers occur inside the ring of bracts. This is an iconic Australian plant that most people don't realise is an Aussie native. PS: The name of this national park is Girraween, which means "place of flowers".
Spotted along the Racecourse Creek Track in Girraween National Park, southeast Queensland. Dry sclerophyll forest with sandy granite soils, substantial undergrowth and accumulated leaf litter, on the northern side of a granite monolith known as Billy Goat Hill. Looking fresh after recent rain. Here's some park info - http://www.rymich.com/girraween/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girraween_...
* Described by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in 1803, it was known as Helichrysum bracteatum for many years before being transferred to a new genus Xerochrysum in 1990. (Wikipedia)
Spotted on Jun 8, 2020
Submitted on Jun 10, 2020
2 Comments
Thanks, Single D. It's quite an amazing flower. How many people would realise that the yellow bracts aren't actually petals? I had no idea until I started spotting them and posting them here on PN.
Always been nice that even the 'poor' can pick a bouquet of field flowers that are very pretty.