New South Wales Waratah
Fully mature flowerhead with all florets opened, Royal National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Telopea
Species:	T. speciosissima
Binomial name
Telopea speciosissima (Sm.) R.Br.
Synonyms
Embothrium speciosissimum Sm. Embothrium speciosissimum Salisb. nom. illeg. Hylogyne speciosa (Salisb.) Salisb. ex Knight nom. illeg. nom. rej.

Telopea speciosissima, commonly known as the New South Wales Waratah or simply Waratah, is a large shrub in the Proteaceae family. It is endemic to New South Wales in Australia and is the floral emblem of that state. No subspecies are recognised, although the closely related Telopea aspera was only recently recognised as a separate species. It grows as a shrub to 3 or 4 m (10–13 ft) high and 2 m wide. It has a pronounced woody base known as a lignotuber, but is most renowned for its striking large crimson inflorescences (flowerheads) in spring, each made up of hundreds of individual flowers.

Commercially grown in several countries as a cut flower, it is also cultivated in the home garden, although requires good drainage. It has been hybridised with Telopea oreades and T. mongaensis to promote tolerance to cold, shade and heavier soils.

Description

The New South Wales Waratah is a large erect shrub up to 3 or 4 metres (10–13 ft) in height with one or more stems.^[1][2] Arising vertically or near vertically from a large woody base, or lignotuber, the stems are little branched. There is a spurt of new growth after flowering in late spring, with new shoots often arising from old flowerheads.^[3] The dark-green leaves are alternate, usually coarsely-toothed and range from 13 to 25 cm (5–10 in) in length.^[1] Enveloped in leafy bracts, the flowerheads develop over the winter and begin to swell in early spring,^[1][4] before opening to reveal the striking inflorescences. The exact timing varies across New South Wales, but flowering can begin as early as August in the northern parts of its range, and finish in November in the southern, more elevated areas.^[3] Spot flowering may also occur around March in autumn.^[5] Containing up to 250 individual flowers, the domed flowerheads are crimson in colour and measure 7–10 cm (3–4 in) in diameter. They are cupped in a whorl of leafy bracts which are 5 to 7 cm (2–3 in) long and also red in colour.^[1][3] Variations are not uncommon. Some flowerheads may be more globular or cone-shaped than dome-shaped, and the bracts may be whitish or dark red. The tips of the stigmas of some inflorescences may be whitish in colour, contrasting with the red colour of the rest of the flowerhead.^[6]

An individual flowerhead reaches full size around two weeks after first emerging from the bracts, and lasts another two weeks before the flowers fade and fall. In the first phase, the florets remain unopened—and the flowerhead retains a compact shape—before they mature and open, revealing the style and stigma. The outermost florets open first, anthesis progressing towards the centre of the flowerhead, which becomes darker and more open in appearance, and begins attracting birds and insects.^[5] Flowering is followed by the development of seed pods that are 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long.^[7] The pods eventually turn brown and leathery, splitting open to reveal the winged seeds inside;^[1] this generally occurs in early winter.^[5] In the wild, only 2 or 3 seed pods develop per flowerhead, but there may be anywhere from 5 to 50 in cultivation.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found from the Watagan Mountains southward to Ulladulla, with a relatively widespread distribution in the Central Coast region.^[2] It usually occurs as an understorey shrub in open forest on sandy soils in areas with moderately high rainfall.^[1] Dappled shade from eucalyptus trees reduces sunlight to about 70% of full sun.^[3]

Taxonomy

The New South Wales Waratah was first described by botanist James Edward Smith in his 1793 A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland, from "very fine dried specimens sent by Mr. White".^[8] He gave the species its original binomial name of Embothrium speciosissimum.^[8] The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word speciosus meaning 'beautiful' or 'handsome'.^[1]

Embothrium had been a wastebasket taxon at the time, and Robert Brown soon suggested the genus Telopea in 1809, which was published in 1810.^[9] Richard Salisbury published the name Hylogyne speciosa in 1809, but Brown's name was conserved.^[10]

The common name of waratah was first applied to this species before being generalised to other members of the genus Telopea and, to a lesser extent, Alloxylon. It is derived from the Eora Aboriginal people, the original inhabitants of the Sydney area. Mewah is another aboriginal name.^[10]

Former common names include native tulip, from around 1900, possibly derived from Telopea.^[10]

Ecology

Telopea speciossima is a pyrogenic flowering species, relying on post-fire flowering followed by production and dispersal of non-dormant seeds to take advantage of favourable growing conditions in the altered environment.^[11] It is one of the slowest resprouting woody plant species in south-eastern Australia to produce seedings after fire.^[11]

Cultivation

The New South Wales waratah was a popular garden plant at the beginning of the 20th century. It had been introduced early (1789) into the United Kingdom, and was reported flowering for the first time in 1809 at Springwell, the villa of one E. J. A. Woodford Esq.^[10] The Royal Horticultural Society awarded it an Award of Merit in 1914, and a First Class Certificate in 1922.^[10]

Although they grow naturally on deep sandy soils, the species has proved adaptable to other deep, well-drained soils, especially where natural slopes assist drainage. Despite their natural occurrence in woodland, waratahs flower best in full sun,^[12] although they tolerate the dappled shade of eucalypts.^[10] Heavy pruning after flowering reinvigorates plants and promotes more profuse flowering in the next season.^[1] The species is readily propagated from fresh seed, although cultivars must be reproduced from cuttings to remain true-to-type.^[13]

Several species of fungi infect the roots of waratahs, causing significant plant morbidity or death. Typical symptoms include yellow leaves, wilting, blackening and dieback or part or all of the plant, or lack of proteoid roots.^[14] The most common pathogen is Phytophthora cinnamomi,^[15] which, appears to be more problematic in cultivated plants than with wild populations.^[16] Mass plantings at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney and at Mount Annan planted before the 2000 Summer Olympics were devastated by the disease.^[16] Rhizoctonia solani can cause damping off or root rot,^[15] and is an uncommon pathogen. Likewise Cylindrocarpon scoparium and C. destructans (now Nectria radicicola) are also uncommon causes of infection,^[17] which result in decay of the crown of the plant.^[15] Although significant problems, fungi are less likely to be the cause of plant morbidity than poor drainage or soil conditions.^[14]

The larvae of the moth species the Macadamia leafminer (Acocercops chionsema) burrow along and disfigure the waratah's leaves, and are mainly a problem in lowering the value of cur flower crops. More problematic is the larger caterpillar of the moth speices the Macadamia twig girdler (Xylorycta luteotactella) which can burrow into and disfigure the developing flowerhead.^[15]

Waratah blooms attract birds to the garden.^[10]

They are a popular cut flower and are grown commercially in Australia north of Sydney and in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne. They are also grown commercially in New Zealand, Hawaii and Israel.^[1] One major challenge is that the flowering season is generally short (five weeks total, with only small numbers in the earliest and latest weeks) in any one location. The season may be extended, however, with plants grown at different latititudes. The vase life of a cut waratah is 10 to 14 days, and cut flower waratahs can be revived somewhat by water.^[6]

Cultivars

A number of natural forms have been selected for cultivation as follows:

• Telopea 'Brimstone Blush' is a shrub of smaller size than the species, reaching a metre (3 ft) tall, and was originally found growing on a property of a Ben Richards in Oakdale, southwest of Sydney. Flowering takes place in October. The flowerhead is globular with a pink crown and has 160 individual flowers, thestyles of which are pink and white towards the ends. Three rows of whorled dark red bracts surround the flowerheads.^[18]
• Telopea 'Cardinal' is a form found on the property of Lucille Pope in Werombi. The orginal plant was a vigorous specimen reaching 3 by 3 metres and producing 100 to 120 flowerheads each year. It is named for its large dome-shaped cardinal red flowerheads, which bear 210 individual flowers and are surrounded by two rows of dark red bracts. These blooms have long vase life.^[19]
• Telopea 'Corroboree' - form with extended styles, it has compact inflorescences measuring 12 cm (5 in) high and wide, and is a vigorous grower. It was selected in 1974 by Nanette Cuming of Bittern, Victoria and registered with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority in 1989. It is grown principally for the cut flower industry.^[20]
• Telopea 'Fire and Brimstone' is a vigorous form with large inflorescences selected by waratah grower and author Paul Nixon of Camden, New South Wales. It is a shrub which may reach 3–4 m tall and 2 m wide, with large leaves more heavily toothed margins.^[21] Each flowerhead is cone-shaped and has up to 240 florets. The stigmas are a light red and tipped with white. The bracts surrounding the flowerheads are relatively small, while the leaves are large and can reach 44 cm (18 in) in length.^[22] The cultivar is thought to be tetraploid.^[21] With a long vase life of 17 days, the cultivar is suitable for the cut flower industry.^[22]
• Telopea 'Olympic Flame' is a form with prominent bracts around the flowerheads. It has large leaves with toothed margins and flowers in early spring. Also known as 'Sunburst', it arose as a seedling in a breeding program conducted by Cathy Offord, Peter Goodwin and Paul Nixon under the auspices of the University of Sydney.^[21]
• Telopea 'Shade of Pale' - an unusual pale-pink flowered form of T. speciosissima . It is less vigorous than the parent plant. It was initially promoted as 'Light Shade of Pale' but there can only be three words in a registered cultivar name. It is a less vigorous plant.
• Telopea 'Sunflare' is an early-flowering form. It has large leaves with toothed margins and flowers in early spring. It also arose as a seedling in a breeding program conducted by Cathy Offord, Peter Goodwin and Paul Nixon under the auspices of the University of Sydney.^[21]
• Telopea 'Wirrimbirra White' - white colour form from Kangaloon near Robertson. It was brought into cultivation in 1972 by cuttings from the original plant which grew on water catchment property. It has pale greenish buds which open to a cream-white inflorescence. J. H. Maiden had previously found a white waratah near Kurrajong.^[10] It is less vigorous than the parent species and vulnerable to borers.^[23]

In addition, a number of interspecific hybrids have also been produced. These have been bred or used as more frost- or shade-tolerant plants in cooler climates such as Canberra, Melbourne or elsewhere.

• Telopea 'Braidwood Brilliant' - is a frost-tolerant hybrid between a male T. speciosissima and female T. mongaensis. Dr Robert Boden of the Canberra Parks Administration began investigating this hybrid in 1962, and it was registered in 1975 by Richard Powell. It is a ligntuberous shrub to 3 metres (10 ft) high and has oblanceolate leaves to 20 cm (8 in) long. The red blooms are 6–8 cm (2.4-3.2 in) in diameter, intermediate in size between the parent species.^[10] It has grown well in cooler climates such as Canberra.^[24]

• Telopea 'Canberry Coronet' - a cross between T. speciosissima sourced from Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains and T. mongaensis, for increased cold tolerance . It is has red flowerheads to 6–8 cm (2.4-3.2 in) in diameter. Reaching 3–4 m (9–13 ft) high, it is a larger plant than 'Braidwood Brilliant'.^[21] It was bred by Doug Verdon of the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra.^[18]
• Telopea 'Champagne' is cultivar registered under Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) in 2006.^[25] It is a three way hybrid between T. speciosissima, T. oreades and the yellow-flowered form of T. truncata.
• Telopea 'Golden Globe' is cultivar registered under Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) in 2005.^[26] Larger than 'Champagne', it is a three way hybrid between T. speciosissima, T. oreades and the yellow-flowered form of T. truncata. It has been propagated and sold as 'Shady Lady Yellow'. It was originally bred in the Dandenongs east of Melbourne.
• Telopea 'Shady Lady' is a larger shrub which may reach 5 m high and 2 or 3 m wide. A hybrid of T. speciosissima and T. oreades, it arose by chance in a Melbourne garden. The flowerheads are smaller and lack the bracts of the speciosissima parent. As its name suggests, it tolerates more shade.^[21]
• Telopea 'Shady Lady White' - white colour form and hybrid between T. speciosissima and T. oreades. A 2005 registered PBR cultivar 'Bridal Gown' (from T. speciosissima 'Wirrimbirra White' and T. oreades 'Errinundra White') is being marketed as 'Shady Lady White (Improved)'.
• 'Shady Lady Crimson', 'Shady Lady Red' and 'Shady Lady Pink' – crimson, red and pink flowering hybrids between T. speciosissima and T. oreades.

Symbolic and artistic references

The New South Wales Waratah featured prominently in the folklore of the Darug and Tharawal people in the Sydney basin and Gandangara people to the southwest.^[27] An Dreamtime legend from the Eora tells of female Wonga Pigeon searching for her husband who has been lost while out hunting. A hawk attacks and wounds her, and she hides in a waratah bush. Her husband calls and as she struggles in the bush her blood turns the white waratah blooms red.^[28] The Dharawal people of the Illawarra region knew it as Mooloone and regarded it as a totem, using it in ceremonies and timing ceremonies to its flowering.^[29]

The striking form of the New South Wales Waratah became a popular motif in Australian art in the early part of the twentieth century and was incorporated in art nouveau designs of the time. Matchboxes, paperweights and especially tins have been decorated with the flower. Arnott's often used the waratah as an alternative to their parrot logo on biscuit and cake tins from the early 1900s.^[30] Shelleys soft drinks, established in 1893 in Broken Hill, also displayed it on their label.^[30]

In 1925, artist Margaret Preston produced a hand-coloured woodcut depicting waratahs.^[31] The species also appeared on an Australian 3 shilling stamp in 1959 designed by botanical illustrator Margaret Jones and a 30c stamp in 1968.^[1]

It was proclaimed as the official floral emblem of New South Wales in 1962.^[1] Since that time, the species has also been adopted by others, including the New South Wales Waratahs rugby union team since the 1880s,^[30] and the former department store Grace Bros in the 1980s.^[30]

Contemporary clothing designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson used the waratah in the 1970s during a resurgence of Australian motifs.^[32]

See also

• List of Australian floral emblems

References

Cited text

• Nixon, Paul (1997) [1989]. The Waratah (2nd ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-878-6.