KINGDOM: Plantae
ORDER: Proteales
FAMILY: Proteaceae
SUBFAMILY: Grevilleoideae
TRIBE: Embothrieae
GENUS: Telopea
Waratah is an Australian-endemic genus of five species of large shrubs or small trees, native to the southeastern parts of Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. The most well-known species in this genus if Telopea speciosissima which has bright red flowers and is the NSW state emblem.
The Waratah is a member of the plant family Proteaceae – a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere.
The inflorescence is the outstanding feature of this plant, it consists of many small flowers densely packed into a compact head or spike.
The image to the left (Waratah Corroboree) was taken at a Boambee garden – a stunner!
