Victorian Waratah. 



(Telopea oreades, F.v.M.) 



Here is one of our prettiest figured Australian ornamental timbers. In figure, character, 

 and texture it is a replica of the American Sycamore, so much admired in light-coloured suites 

 of furniture, and so largely used in veneers for decorative work. At one time the latter timber 

 was much in vogue for picture frames, but is not now so used. It is a close grained, medium in 

 weight, light coloured timber, which planes and polishes well, and only requires to be better 

 known to be appreciated in the trade. 



Description of the Tree. A fair sized tree with a very thin, fairly smooth, dark 

 coloured bark. Leaves on the young plants large, a foot long, and nearly 3 inches wide, 

 oblanceolate, acuminate, much narrowed towards the base. A few of the main veins 

 prominent, glabrous pale on the under side. Normal leaves alternate, obovate-oblong, 

 entire 4 to 8 inches long, tapering into a long petiole, glaucous underneath. Flowers 

 crowded in a large terminal crimson head-like raceme, surrounded by comparatively small 

 coloured involucral bracts, under i inch long. Perianth glabrous, over i inch long. Fruit 

 a recurved coriaceous follicle about 5 inches long. 



Geographical Range. Southern Coast district, New South Wales, into Gippsland, 

 Victoria. 



