The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-16
SOME AUSTRALIAN FLOWERS.
\ PROPULSION of Beautiful Native
Blooms.

l
| Australia has not inaptly been desig-
mated a floral paradise. 1t has profu-
of which have become garden favorites
| Among these is the Waratah the ma
| tional flower of New South Wales, 1t
| is also known as the native tulip" all
| though it has no resemblance to that
| flower. 1t is a magnificent crimson
globe shaped blossom, about three inch
es in diameter, and is largely introduced
! into colonial decorative work of every
| description. The Flannel flower is an
| other New South Wales favorite. 1t is
so called because it appears as if cut
out of white flannel. Although album
dant in many parts of the colony, it is
difficult of propagation. Immense num-
bers are sold during the season by street
sellers and others in Sydney. The Gold
en- Waffle forms another of the nation
al plants of New South Wales. 1t is
found in numerous gardens as well as
In the bush, and when the tree, 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 Australian
aborigines as Book Kerriking," is a
handsome tree, ranging from thirty to
fifty feet in height. 1t often exudes a
aborigines, and is even now collected by
children, and eagerly eaten. 1t evident
ly possesses some nutritive value, as in
stances 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, having a sweet fla
vor The flowers resemble those Of the
golden Waffle.
The native rose Is beautiful flower,
its name being suggested by its color,
the only point of resemblance it bears
to the garden or wild rose. 1t is plenti-
full in the country around Sydney, but
not readily found elsewhere. The hon
ey flower which has not been encoun-
tered outside New South Wales, derives
it's name from the large amount of hon
ey stored in its tubular flowers, which
cause them to be sought by children.
In former times the flower formed por-
ton of the plant foods Of the aborigines.
The native fuschia is abundant in the
neighborhood of Sydney 1t is one of
the most beautiful of Australian native
flowers, and was very popular in Eng
land at the beginning Of the century.
when woody plants from Australia and
the cape were in vogue. The Christmas
bell, something like a dropping tulip, is
so called from it's blooming at Christmas
IT, ;r. iyv tIa trv
miles north of Sydney and commands
a ready sale everywhere. The Christ
mas bush is a tree which frequently at
tains a height of thirty or forty feet,
and is found only in New South Wales.
When In bloom it Is mass of small red
or pinlsish flowers, and Is used as a sub
stitute 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 hight. covered with small yellow |
Ssh cup-shaped flowers. Another, the |
Boronia pinnata, is sold in large guam
titles in the Sydney streets during the
spring months. 1t is most delightful |
Jidll, lar eNCeculIS III beduly lllc
tive rose. Among climbing plants may
De mentioned the wonga wonga vine, |
called Supple Jack" be-
,ause of its tough, struggling stems. 1t
$ readily propagated, both from seeds
Ind cuttings, and was at one time to be
cen in several London nurseries The
hove are only few of the myriad ma
i've 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
research. is issuing from the
overnment printing office in Sydney an
interesting work, with beautifully col I
red plates, descriptive of the leading
alive flowers and ferns.-John Plum
1er's Australian Letters. II