The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-08-15
RARE AUSTRALIAN FLOWERS.
Unique Specimens Make that Country
Paradise for Botauists.


Australia has not inaptly been desig-
mated as a floral paradise. 1t has a pro-
fusion of beautiful native flowers, many
of which have become garden favorites
Among these is the Waratah, the nation
al flower of New South Wales. 1t is also
known as the native tulip" although il
has no resemblance to that flower 1t Is
magnificent crimson. globe-shaped bios
som. about three inches in diameter. and
is largely introduced into colonial deco
rative work of every description. The
flannel flower is another Sew South
Wales favorite 1t is 81 called because
it appears as if cut out of white flannel
Although abundant in many pZrts of the
colony, il IS difficult of propagation. I'M
mense numbers are sold during the sea-
son by street sellers and others in sgd
rey- The golden waffle forms ah1<her ri
the national plants of New SoIh WEES.
II is found in numerous gardods, III we'll
as in the bush, and when the tie, which
is about the same size as the lilac in
Europe, is in full bloom it presents a
splendid appearance. The bark of the tree
is used for tanning purposes.
The black waffle, known to the Aus
tralian aboriginies as ''book-kerriking, %
to fifty feet in Leight 1t often exudes a
gum which wab used for food by the abor-
iginies. and is even now collected by
children. AID eagerlt eaten. 1t evidently
possesses some nutritive value, as instan-
ces are on record of children and others
lost in the bush having been sustained by
it. Country children sometimes soak the
gum in water to make a thick jelly, hav-
ing a sweet flavor. The flowers resemble
those of the golden waffle. The native
rose is a beautiful flower its name being
suggested by its color the only point OF
resemblance ii bears to the garden or
wild rose. 1t is plentiful in the country
around Sydney, but not readily found
elsewhere
The honey flower, which has not been
encountered outside of New South Wales
derives its name from the large amount of
honey stored in its tubular flowers, which
cause them to be sought by children. In
former times the flower formed a portion
of the plant foods of the aborigines. The
native fuschia is abundant in the neigh
borhood of Sydney. 1t is one of the most
beautiful of Austrian native flowers. and
was very popular in England at the be-
ginning of the century when woody
plants from Australia and the Cape were
in vogue. The Christmas bell something
like dropping tulip, is so called from its
blooming at Christmas time. II is found
in the country several miles north Of
Sydney, and commands a ready sale
everywhere. The Christmas bush is
tree which frequently attains a height
of thirty or forty feet. and is found only
in New South Wales. When i'm full bloom
it is mass of small red or pinkish flow
ers. and is used as a substitute for holly
throughout the colony at Christmas time.
Several of the most charming flowers
have no aboriginal or popular names
Among these is gOodenia ovata. which is
a handsome shrub, some five or six feet
in height, covered with small yellOwish
cup-shaped flowers Another. the Boronia
pinnata, is sold in large quantities in the
Sydney streets during the spring months.
1t is a n ost delightful plant. far exceeding
in beauty the native rose. Among climb
ing plants may be mentioned the wonsa
wOnga vine, sometimes called Supple
Jack" because of its tough, stra ggling
stems. 1t is readily propagated, both from
seeds and cuttings, and was at one time
to be seen in several London nurseries.
The above are only a few of the myriad
native Towering plants met with in New
South Wales; and the Department of
Mines and Agriculture in that colony,
with a view to making its floral wealth
more widely known, and stimulating be-
tanicaI research is issuing from the gov
eminent printing office in Sydney an in
teresting work. with beautifully cOlOred
plates, descriptive OF the leading native
flowers and ferns.