Asteraceae
Xerochrysum viscosum
(Formerly Bracteantha viscosa and Helichrysum viscosa) is commonly known as Sticky Everlasting.This is a daisy and the centre of the floral head, which is made up of many crowded individual flowers, makes a good landing platform for pollinators. Butterflies (especially Painted Ladies) are often seen visiting these flowers. Ants are commonly found there as well, although why the ants are there and whether they are involved in actual pollination is not known.
Pollen images
Craspedia glauca
Variable Billy-button, Craspedia variabilis, belongs to the daisy family. Their 'heads' are made up from a mass of flowers. In this species all the flowers appear the same, they are tightly packed, making a good landing platform for bees or butterflies or other insects which have the right mouth parts to probe the individual tubular flowers. The many-spiked pollen is typical of the family.
Pollen images
Microseris walteri
Microseris walteri is commonly known as the Yam Daisy. This member of the daisy family was widespread in the area and was extensively used as a food source by aboriginal people.
During the flowering season, native bees are commonly seen inside these daisies.
Pollen images
Olearia tubuliflora
Olearia tubuliflora is commonly known as the Rayless Daisy-bush. This is an uncommon member of the daisy family for the Box-Ironbark region but in some years its presence has been obvious in the One Tree Hill area of Bendigo. No details are known about the pollinating agent.
Pollen images
Ozothamnus obcordatus
Ozothamnus obcordatus is commonly known as Grey Everlasting.
This species is in the daisy family and thus many individual flowers are crowded together to make a showy head. Butterflies are seen on these flowers. The individual flowers are tubular and would need a pollinator with long, probing mouthparts. Daisy pollen is often very spiky all over. This may aid in the pollen grains adhering to the insect's legs and mouthparts.
Pollen images
Podolepis jaceoides
Podolepis jaceoides or Showy Podolepis is a member of the daisy family and thus many individual flowers make up the head. The central flowers are tubular and contain reproductive parts while the flowers on the periphery are modified as petals to serve in 'advertising'. During the flowering period, one or several native bees are seen sitting on the flowering head.
