Waratah
Appearance
Growing up
to 4 metres, this unique flora has an interesting appearance. Waratahs have
leaves that are dark green and leathery. The diameter of the flower heads is
rounded up to 7-10cm.
Adaptation
Waratahs
are a long-living flower and can adapt to Australia’s natural environments. They
are hard to plant as they can die easily if unsuitable soil or climate
conditions are applied.
It grows mainly in the shrub where there is open forests which were developed on
sandstone and adjoining volcanic formations, Soils within its range tend to be
sandy and low in plant nutrients.
Map
Waratahs
are fairly widespread on the central coast and the mountains of New South Wales;
The Waratah occurs naturally in at least ten national parks in the geological
formation, known as the Sydney Basin. Brisbane Water, Dharug and Macquarie Pass
National Parks
Appearance
Growing up
to 4 metres, this unique flora has an interesting appearance. Waratahs have
leaves that are dark green and leathery. The diameter of the flower heads is
rounded up to 7-10cm.
Adaptation
Waratahs
are a long-living flower and can adapt to Australia’s natural environments. They
are hard to plant as they can die easily if unsuitable soil or climate
conditions are applied.
It grows mainly in the shrub where there is open forests which were developed on
sandstone and adjoining volcanic formations, Soils within its range tend to be
sandy and low in plant nutrients.
Map
Waratahs
are fairly widespread on the central coast and the mountains of New South Wales;
The Waratah occurs naturally in at least ten national parks in the geological
formation, known as the Sydney Basin. Brisbane Water, Dharug and Macquarie Pass
National Parks
Importance
Waratah has great significance to our country as
it was proclaimed as an official floral emblem of New South Wales on 24 October
1962.
Aboriginal Dreamtime story
One traditional dreamtime story from the illawaara region is about a Wonga pigeon
who lived in the bush with her mate. Wonga and her mate lived on the bush floor
because the sky belonged to their enemy,
hawk.
Wonga and her mate promised to never lose sight
of each other, but one day they became sperated while looking for food. Wonga
couldn’t find her mate so she flew above the trees to find her. Eventually Wonga
found him down on the floor, but Hawk had already seen her. Hawk caught Wonga
with his sharp talons and wounded her. Wonga desperately tore herself from
Hawk’s grasp and fell towards the bush
below.
Woga landed on a white waratch bush and red blood
trickled down onto the white flowers. She dragged herself from flower to flower
to reach her mate, staining each flower red with her blood. This is why most
waratah flowers are red.
Waratah has great significance to our country as
it was proclaimed as an official floral emblem of New South Wales on 24 October
1962.
Aboriginal Dreamtime story
One traditional dreamtime story from the illawaara region is about a Wonga pigeon
who lived in the bush with her mate. Wonga and her mate lived on the bush floor
because the sky belonged to their enemy,
hawk.
Wonga and her mate promised to never lose sight
of each other, but one day they became sperated while looking for food. Wonga
couldn’t find her mate so she flew above the trees to find her. Eventually Wonga
found him down on the floor, but Hawk had already seen her. Hawk caught Wonga
with his sharp talons and wounded her. Wonga desperately tore herself from
Hawk’s grasp and fell towards the bush
below.
Woga landed on a white waratch bush and red blood
trickled down onto the white flowers. She dragged herself from flower to flower
to reach her mate, staining each flower red with her blood. This is why most
waratah flowers are red.
For more information visit these websites
http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/nsw.emblem.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waratah
https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/plant_info/Plants_for_gardens/Growing_waratahs
http://www.aussie-info.com/identity/flora/waratah.php
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Trees-and-Palms/Tree-Waratah/2130
http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/nsw.emblem.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waratah
https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/plant_info/Plants_for_gardens/Growing_waratahs
http://www.aussie-info.com/identity/flora/waratah.php
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Trees-and-Palms/Tree-Waratah/2130