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Flannel Flower
Actinotus helianthi
-28.8604, 151.97
Field Notes
Description:
One of my favourite Australian wildflower species, the "flannel flower" is a herbaceous shrub growing up to 50 cm (18 in) high, sometimes higher. The creamy-white flowers occur in clusters, and the entire plant has a soft and woolly feel due to the presence of soft white hairs, hence the name. Despite having a daisy-like appearance, the flannel flower is in fact a species of the Apiaceae family, the same family as the carrot, dill, celery and parsley. Flowering occurs in spring to early summer and is followed by fluffy seeds in a globular head. Beetles and wasps (but not bees) are the pollinators, and seeds are dispersed on the wind after the petals die back. May also be profuse after bushfires. It's now autumn and plants are flowering as it's still quite warm, and no doubt helped by good rainfall after a long and difficult drought. It is an iconic native plant, particularly in Sydney, and has been used in imagery and art since colonial times. It is also Australia’s symbol for Mental Health Awareness (see notes). PS: The name of this national park is Girraween, which means "place of flowers".
Habitat:
Spotted at the base of a massive granite outcrop, surrounded by dry sclerophyll forest in Girraween National Park, along the Peak Trail. Sandy granite soils, substantial undergrowth and accumulated leaf litter, and foliage much greener and lush since the drought has broken. Sections of the track were still damp from recent rain. Here's some park info - http://www.rymich.com/girraween/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girraween_National_Park
Notes:
Quoting directly from Mental Health Australia's website: "The Flannel Flower, an Australian native, has been chosen as the national symbol to promote mental health awareness in Australia. The Australian bush has an inherent beauty and strength. It is also known for its extremes of weather and landscape. Varieties of the Flannel Flower are commonly found growing wild in the bush throughout Australia. The Flannel Flower, as with all native Australian plants, needs to be adaptable and enduring in order to survive. In the same way all of us, regardless of our life circumstances, develop resilience and the ability to adapt to change, in order to maintain good mental health. Being open and empathetic to a person’s expression of distress can assist in the recovery of a person living with mental illness and change the negative attitudes of our society as a whole."
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