PROTEAS 
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MAIDEN’S TREE WARATAH 
* MAIDEN’S TREE WARATAH (Em- 
bothrium wickhami var. pinnata). This 
Queensland tree of the Protea family, 
prefers the humus rich soils and moisture 
of the rain forests. It is usually a small 
round-headed tree which sometimes 
reaches large size and the beautifully 
figured red timber is milled for various 
purposes. The chief value of the tree is 
ornamental; the glossy green pinnate foli- 
age is a medium green and forms a fine 
background to the brilliant red flowers. 
Trees growing in the forest present a fine 
sight when in flower and cultivated plants, 
well grown, are of outstanding brilliance. 
The leaves consist of seven to eleven 
leaflets arranged on opposite sides of the 
stalk with terminal leaflet and are borne 
alternately on the branchlets; the flowers 
which appear in November open during 
December, a bright orange-red, and are 
arranged at the end of the branchlets in 
masses usually 5 to 6 inches across and 
4-6 inches deep, carried above the foli- 
age. The seed pods at first green become 
yellow and later brown, are about 3-5 
inches long and open on one side and 
shed up to twelve large winged seeds. 
The pods are on the trees 1% years to 
reach maturity; they are borne in variable 
crops and are very subject to attack by 
grubs; seed is usually difficult to obtain. 
Plants are easily raised from seed, grown 
in pots and planted out with minimum 
root disturbance to semi-shaded areas with 
moist, well-drained, humus, rich _ soil; 
growth is fairly rapid and flowers are 
produced while the plants are still small, 
3 years from seed. E. wickhami occurs in 
North Queensland with entire leaves but 
is otherwise similar in flower and growth 
to the New South Wales variety which 
sometimes has entire leaves which may 
be lobed. This is a tree of great beauty 
that requires some care and attention to 
raise to maturity but is well worth the en- 
deavor. 
FIREWHEEL TREE 
*FIREWHEEL TREE (Stenocarpus 
sinuatus). This evergreen Australian tree, 
vith 8-to-4-inch brilliant orange, wheel- 
shaped flowers, is a magnificent garden 
subject, with bright glossy green, oak-like 
leaves, sometimes a foot long. Flowering 
is sometimes long delayed, but worth 
waiting for. One of Australia’s most 
beautiful trees, the Firewheel prefers acid 
soil and will thrive better near the coast 
than inland. It will sustain temperatures 
as low as 20°. The flowering season in 
Australia is February, in Ceylon June. 
