Common name: Golden Everlasting
Xerochrysum bracteatum (Vent.) Tzvelev APNI* Synonyms: Helichrysum bracteatum (Vent.) Andrews APNI*
Bracteantha bracteata (Vent.) Anderb. & Haegi APNI*
Xeranthemum bracteatum Vent. APNI*
Bracteantha bracteatum APNI*
Xerochrysum bracteatum subsp. stradbrokense Paul G.Wilson APNI*
Xerochrysum bracteatum subsp. interiore Paul G.Wilson APNI*
Xerochrysum bracteatum subsp. papillosum (Labill.) Paul G.Wilson APNI*
Helichrysum chrysanthum Pers. APNI*
Xerochrysum bracteata APNI*
Description: Erect annual to rarely biannual herb up to 2 m. Stems cobbwebby, shortly hairy with septate hairs, sessile glands, glabrescent or glabrous.
Basal leaves not present at flowering. Basal leaves elliptic to lanceolate, base amplexicaule. Cauline leaves oblanceolate, mm long x mm wide, leaf base attenuate, apex acute to acuminate, margins hairy with septate hairs, rarely cobbwebby (ST only); under leaf surface with sessile glands and septate hairs primarily on the midvein; upper leaf surface with sessile glands, and sparsely to moderately scabrous hairy.
Leaf floral bracts below heads 8–10 mmlong. Inflorescences terminal, paniculate on peduncles cm long. Heads 3–5 cm wide. Outer involucre bracts broad ovate, yellow or brown, apex apiculate; middle involucre bracts oblong, narrow ovate or lanceolate, brown or yellow, apex cuspidate.
Achenes oblong, c. 2.2 mm long, 0.75 mm wide, squarish in cross section. Pappus deciduous, 5–6 mm long.
Flowering: Spring and Summer, fruiting Summer.
Distribution and occurrence: From the Sydney Basin and Blue Mountains south along the south coast and adjacent ranges. Grows in open woodland or forest, usually on sandy to sandy loam soils.
NSW subdivisions: CC, SC, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Vic.
Formerly a widespread variable species across much of NSW, the current circumscription is narrowed, and a number of new species have been formally described.
Text by Modified by Peter Jobson June 2025
Taxon concept: T.L. Collins et al. (2022) There's gold in them thar hills! Morphology and molecules delimit species in Xerochrysum (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) and reveal new taxa. Aust. Syst. Bot. 35: 120-185.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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