  waratah (telopea) is an endemic, australian genus of five species of large shrubs or small trees, native to the southeastern parts of australia (new south wales, victoria and tasmania). the most well-known species in this genus is 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 key diagnostic feature of proteaceae is the inflorescence, which is often very large, brightly coloured and showy, consisting of many small flowers densely packed into a compact head or spike. species of waratah boast such inflorescences ranging from 6â15&nbsp;cm in diameter with a basal ring of coloured bracts. the leaves are spirally arranged, 10â20&nbsp;cm long and 2â3&nbsp;cm broad with entire or serrated margins. the name waratah comes from the eora aboriginal people, the original inhabitants of the sydney area. ==taxonomy== telopea is of the plant family proteaceae. within the proteaceae, their closest relatives appear to be the genera alloxylon (tree waratahs), oreocallis and embothrium, a group of generally terminal red-flowering plants that skirt the southern edges of the pacific rim. together they make up the subtribe embothriinae within the family. the genus was first described by r. brown in 1810 from the type telopea speciosissima. there are five species of plant within the genus. ==species== 150px|thumbnail|left|telopea speciosissima 150px|thumbnail|left|telopea oreades thumb|150px|telopea truncata thumb|150px|telopea mongaensis the genus telopea contains five species: *telopea aspera crisp & p.h.weston â gibraltar range waratah or new england waratah. northeast new south wales. *telopea speciosissima (sm.) r.br. â new south wales waratah. east new south wales. *telopea mongaensis cheel â braidwood waratah or monga waratah. southeast new south wales. *telopea oreades f.muell. â gippsland waratah or victorian waratah. southern victoria. *telopea truncata (labill.) [[
Australian_Aboriginal_words_and_phrases Flowers Garden_plants_of_Australia Proteaceae_genera Proteales_of_Australia Telopea