Xerochrysum viscosum
Sticky Paper Daisy, Sticky Everlasting
Name Meaning: Xerochrysum viscosum
Xerochrysum - from Greek xeros meaning “dry” and chrysos meaning “gold” (this refers to the common yellow papery bracts that occur within the genus)
Xerochrysum viscosum is a common daisy native to Australia. It is also known as Sticky Everlasting, Yellow Paper Daisy, Shiny Everlasting or Golden Everlasting.
X. viscosum naturally grows in south eastern Australia occurring in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Australian National Territory and Tasmania. It is widespread in open eucalypt woodland or sclerophyll forest, and is an opportunist in disturbed areas such as roadsides and goldfields in Victoria.
X. viscosum is an erect low growing perennial herb of multiple stem growth. It grows between 20-80cm high and 30-80cm wide with bright green linear or elliptic leaves of 30-100mm long and 2-10mm wide with a sticky, rough surface. The bright yellow flower heads are 20-30mm wide, attractive and long lasting. The papery bracts display the colours of lemon, gold, splotchy orange to bronze.
It flowers during spring and summer and may extend into autumn. It forms large clusters of flower heads The flower heads are insect pollinated and will provide food for native butterflies and larvae.
Most of the caches are located nearby dirt cycling tracks or the paved cycle track that is heavily used by people cycling to work and students going and coming from school. use care not to reveal the locations and replace each one as you find it. The tracks are used by runners on weekends so try not to wander on and off the tracks in case you have an unexpected meeting with someone.
there are places along the road side where you can pull over but remember to allow passage for other vehicles .Enjoy the journey and remember this is the Australia bushland so expect to be sharing it with the native inhabitants. tread carefully and warily especially during the warmer months. There are also old mine diggings around the entire area so not advisable to do in darkness.