Waratah

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Waratah (Telopea) is a genus of five species of large shrubs or small trees in the Proteaceae, native to southeastern Australia, from New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. They have spirally arranged leaves 10-20 cm long and 2-3 cm broad with entire or serrated margins, and large, dense flowerheads 6-15 cm diameter with numerous small red flowers and a basal ring of red bracts.

Related Topics:
Shrub - Tree - Proteaceae - Australia - New South Wales - Victoria - Tasmania - Leaves - Flower - Bract

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;Species

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The five species all occupy distinct ranges with minimal or no overlap; listed from north to south:

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• Telopea aspera Crisp & P.H.Weston - Gibraltar Range Waratah or New England Waratah. Northeast New South Wales.
• Telopea speciosissima (Sm.) R.Br. - New South Wales Waratah. East New South Wales.
• Telopea mongaensis Cheel - Braidwood Waratah or Monga Waratah. Southeast New South Wales.
• Telopea oreades F.Muell. - Gippsland Waratah or Victorian Waratah. Southern Victoria.
• Telopea truncata (Labill.) R.Br. - Tasmanian Waratah. Tasmania.

The New South Wales Waratah is native to areas in the Sydney geological basin, Central and South Coast districts, and in the Blue Mountains; it grows to about 4 m tall. It typically grows in sandy loam soils along ridges and plateaus. It is the floral emblem of the state of New South Wales and several organisations in the state.

Related Topics:
Sydney - Loam

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Waratahs are popular ornamental plants in gardens in Australia; several hybrids and cultivars have been developed, including some with creamy-white and pink flowers as well as the natural red.

Related Topics:
Ornamental plant - Garden - Hybrid - Cultivar

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The botanical journal Telopea is named after the genus.

Related Topics:
Botanical - Journal - Telopea

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