Oz flowers

Hi all,

Western Australia is known as "The Wildflower State" because it has more native flowering plants fould only in that region, than anywhere else in the world. The native ecology is dependent on flowers and their nectar, so there is never a time in the year when there is not something in the bush putting on a display. Some of them look very unusual, compared to European or North American flora. Here are a couple.

First up, Melaleuca lateritica. A shrub up to 3m high with a similar spread. Grows naturally in the drier regions of the south west, bordering on the interior deserts. Flowers mostly deep red but sometimes orange. In fill bloom, the flowers completely cover the plant.

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Here is a second flower. This is Banksia coccina. A small tree up to 5m. Flowers are deep red to orange, and held upright in cones. They open from the bottom upwards, with the final ones opening more than a month after the bottom of the cone. Each cone produces only 4 - 6 seeds, which are kept inside the cone, which becomes very hard and woody. The cone only opens after a hot bushfire. Cones from a wide range of Banksias are commonly used in floral decorations and woodworking.

Banksia coccina grows naturally around the south west of WA, mainly in laterite soils that receive good winter rainfall.

Cheers,

Maurice

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