Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Chrysocephalum apiculatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Chrysocephalum
Species:	C. apiculatum
Binomial name
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Labill.)

Chyrsocephalum apiculatum, known more readily by its common name of Common Everlasting, is a perennial herb native to southern Australia. It is a member of the Asteraceae family (daisies). It prefers sunny locations on light well drained soil. It normally occurs in grassy areas and is an important food plant for the Australian Painted Lady Butterfly. It gains its name of 'everlasting' from its remarkable keeping ability as a cut flower. It is enjoying increasing popularity in Australia as a cottage garden plant, but is still very little known.^[1]

Common Everlasting grows to around 40 centimeters high, with spreading horizontal stems that turn upwards as they get longer. The elongated silvery grey leaves clasp tightly to these stems and are covered in fine, silky hairs. During spring, medium-sized 'button' flowers form at the end of each stalk. They are bright yellow balls, around 1 cm in diameter each and form in clusters of several.^[2] The petals are not obvious. Like most daisies, the flowers are replaced by countless flyaway seeds which are gradually blown away by the wind. The seed germinates readily, but has a short viable life.

References

1. ^ "The Native Plants of Adelaide". Department for Environment and Heritage. http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm. Retrieved 21 March 2011. 
2. ^ "Plants of the Adelaide plains and hills". Library of South Australia.