Telopea speciosissima Waratah Endemic
The name Waratah was coined by the Eora Aboriginal people who lived in the area. Although it is said to be reducing in numbers, we found at least 20 in flowering by the side of the forest track on our single day trip from Sydney into the blue mountains.
Telopea speciosissima, a member of the Proteaceae family, is endemic to Australia and to New South Wales and has been adopted as the state emblem. It grows with terminal flowers on single stems from a lignotuber from which it could sprout again after a forest fire. There are relatives of this species in south America and this suggests that it has been around in some form for possibly 170 million years since Australia was part of the larger land mass known as Gondwanaland.
Telopea (means seen from a distance) speciosissima (means very beautiful) is attractive to Honey eaters (Birds) and the pygmy possum both of which may contribute to pollination to some extent. This was by far the most stunning wild plant seen on our 2015 trip to Australia and gardeners and nurserymen have been quick to adopt it and create new varieties for sale. It is found in the wild only in a restricted range around Sydney in eastern Australia.
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| Telopea speciosissima Waratah |
Amongst Sclerophyll (Scribbly Gum) forest in Blue Mountains, near Sydney Eastern Australia 21st October 2015
Added on 1st November 2015