Waratah
Telopea truncata
Telopea is a plant genus in the family of the silver tree family ( Proteaceae ) with five species.
Description
Telopea species are evergreen shrubs or rarely small trees that reach heights of growth of 3 to 5 meters and usually have several stems. The spirally arranged leaves are shaped differently in young and older plants. On young plants the leaves are simple with smooth or serrated blade edge, on older plant they are easy, but with wavy edges to lobed. The leaves are 10-20 cm long and 2-3 cm wide.
The total terminal inflorescences are dense, ovoid or spherical, have a diameter of 6-15 cm and a ring on by reddish bracts; they contain up to 250 individual flowers. The total inflorescences consist of pseudo- racemose partial inflorescences in which the flowers are together in pairs. The zygomorphic flowers are red. Pollination is by birds. In the bud, the bloom are strongly incurved. It is a horseshoe-shaped nectary present.
The follicles are lignified. The seeds are winged.
Systematics and distribution
The natural occurrence area is located in southeastern Australia: New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Telopea oreades
Telopea mongaensis
Within the silver tree plants the closest relatives appear to be, all of which are red - flowering plants in the South Pacific Australia the genera Alloxylon, Oreocallis and Embothrium. Together they form the subtribes of the tribe of Embothriinae Embothrieae in the subfamily Grevilleoideae within the family Proteaceae.
The genus Telopea in 1810 by Robert Brown in On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae. in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 10 ( 1 ), pp. 197 first published without type species. The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature ( ICBN ), Berlin, 1988, by WR Greuter: Regnum Vegetable 118: 191 a lectotype: Telopea speciosissima (Sm. ) R.Br. defined and the genus name Telopea conserved, with the 1809 published name Hylogyne Salisb. was rejected ex Knight.
The five Telopea species have distribution areas that do not overlap or not minimal; from north to south, these are:
- Telopea aspera Crisp & PHWeston - In the north- east of New South Wales.
- Telopea mongaensis Cheel - In the southeast, New South Wales.
- Telopea oreades F.Muell. - Southern Victoria.
- Telopea speciosissima (Sm. ) R.Br. - To the east of New South Wales.
- Telopea truncata ( Labill. ) R.Br. - Tasmania.
Cultivation
The New South Wales Waratah ( Telopea speciosissima ) comes from the area of the Sydney Basin, the Central Coast, the South Coast of New South Wales and the Blue Mountains; it reaches a height of up to 4 meters. Telopea speciosissima commonly grows on sandy loam soils along the edges of plateaus. This Telopea - is native of New South Wales; but it is also common in Victoria and Tasmania due to their popularity as an ornamental plant.
Telopea varieties are popular as ornamental plants in gardens Australian, but a bit difficult in nursing. Several hybrids and cultivars have been bred, including some creamy white and pink flowers with natural red and white varieties of Telopea hot speciossisima ' Telopea Wirrimbirra White' and 'T. Shady Lady White '. In contrast, 'T. Shady Lady Pink ' and ' T. Shady Lady Red ' hybrid of Telopea Telopea oreades speciosissima with.
Cultural Significance
The trivial name " Waratah " used in English comes from the tribe of the Aboriginal Eora, the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. In the mythology of the Aborigines of the southwest, the Waratah multiple input has been found and is maintained as a totem.
The botanical journal Telopea is named after this genus, as is the Sydney suburb named Telopea ( Sydney ).
Telopea speciosissima is the state flower of the state of New South Wales and various organizations in the state, such as the New South Wales Waratahs rugby team.