Matryoshka Mistletoe Mystery Cache
noikmeister: This is why you can't have nice things. Went to this cache today feeling sure that there must be something wrong with it, but no. The wrong thing was the finders who didn't replace the lid on the outer container allowing it to fill with water. The cache has now been archived.
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Needless to say, the cache is not at the listed co-ordinates, but you knew that already didn't you? There is some research to do, then some field mathematics. Please don't reveal the secret of what you find at GZ in your logs. This is a no-swaps cache, pathtags allowed.
First you must answer the questions about Australian Mistletoe below. These will reveal the co-ordinates of WP1. According to the Australian National Botanic Gardens website: The name mistletoe strictly applies to a specific northern hemisphere plant. A = the number of letters in the second word of its scientific name. Beneath the mistletoe fruit coat is a sticky layer of viscin, which is rich in what? B = The number of letters in the answer. A feature more frequent in Australian mistletoe that anywhere else is the plant's mimicry of its host. Amyema cambagei may be seen in the Canberra region on what type of common tree? C = the letter value of the first letter of the tree name (where A=1 ... Z=26). Mistletoe squared? When one mistletoe is a parasite on another it is called Epiparasitism. D = The number of degrees or categories of Epiparasitism. One necessary condition for the origin of mimicry in the parasite is high host specificity. Of the 46 species of aerial stem-parasitic loranths in open forest and woodland habitats in Australia, how many demonstrate host specificity? E = the first digit of the answer. The mistletoe has a highly modified root system that forms one or more what? F = the number of letters in the answer WP1 is at S35 23.ABC E149 6.DEF Checksums: S28 E36 At WP1 observe a grate. It has two sections and each has how many large bars (ignore the weld mesh covering the grate)? Answer = GH From the grate head to the SE and then up onto the concrete barrier on the roadside (keep geokids and dogs away from here. There is a concrete edge about 1 metre from the road, but it would be a little too close for comfort for geokids) and find a 4 digit number at ground level, JKLM You will find GZ at: S35 (K)(G+K).(J+M)(J-K)(H) E149 (L)(H-K).(J-M)(J)(G) Checksum: S30 E30 Please retrieve the container from the uphill side to hide from the passing cars. On your walk to GZ note the heavy mistletoe burden. Perhaps you will start to see it everywhere now that your awareness has been raised.
First to Find: OzLurker
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Erfrnepu: uggc://jjj.naot.tbi.nh/zvfgyrgbr/
Treasures
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