Blue Mountains National Park
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Although the Family Proteaceae is "only" the fifth largest of the Australia flora in terms of the number of species, it boasts some of the most popular and well known - including the Waratah and Old Man Banksia.
The Grevillea genus, with over 350 species, is the third largest genus - after Acacia and Eucalyptus.
Many of the species below are very prolific in the Park.
Other attractions of the Blue Mountains National Park
The Grose Valley lies to the east of Blackheath. It has been carved by the Grose River and Govetts Creek.
Mt. Banks and Mt. Hay - 1058m and 944m respectively tower over the valley.
The Blue Gum Forest is at the junction of the Grose River and Govetts Creek. It is this forest where, in 1931, conservation of the Blue Mountains began.
Select the thumbnail image to see the full image.
 Orange candle like cones in Autumn with Rosemary like leaves. Also see our Heath Banksia web page. |
 It gets its name from the underside of its leaves which are white and shine in the sun. Also see our Silver Banksia web page. |
 Distinctive cream cones in summer with serrated leaves - all growing on wonderfully gnarled trees. Here he is covered in dew. Also see our Old Man Banksia web page. |
 Flowering in autumn and winter, its hook-like styles (hairpins) come in black, purple, red, orange and yellow. Also see our Hairpin Banksia web page. |
 The Drumstick's leaves become red in the cooler months, giving each flower a sensational red and green surround. |
 Although looking needle like, its leaf are soft. Its cones are more oval than the Drumstick. |
 Where the leaves of the Conesticks generally all point upwards, the leaves of the Stalked Conesticks point every which way. |
Geebungs - the Persoonia genus There are about 100 species of Geebung - all endemic to Australia.
Their distinctive bright yellow flowers in summer and fruit (drupes) distinguishes them from any other genus. They are known to hybridize, so identifying a species by an amateur botanist (namely me) is not certain. Included below is one specimen - a mystery geebung - that is most probably a hybrid. The word Geebung has been long immortalised in Banjo Paterson's poem The Geebung Polo Club. |
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One of the more easily identified Geebungs. Its broad leaves and flaky bark are the keys. Here's an image of its new growth. Here's another image of its flowers. |
 The other Geebung with flaky bark is the Narrow-leaved Geebung. Its leaves are very long (up to 80mm) and are usually just 2mm wide. Here's another image. |
 This is a prostrate geebung. Its light green pine-like leaves identifies it. |
 It is a threatened species, and is mainly found in the upper Blue Mountains. |
 Its very hairy leaves, branches and tepals (outer covering of the flower) are the first thing you notice about this attractive plant. There are nine subspecies - but this is the one most frequently found in the upper Blue Mountains. Here's a close-up image. |
 This is a threatened species and is classed as vulnerable. It can be identified by the channel on the upper surface of its leaves - which are around 15mm in length. [I noticed that one of the flowers in the above image has unfurled into 5 parts.] [I thought that this may have been P. hindii, but the helpful folk at RBG have confirmed it as P. acerosa.] |
 The leaves on this geebung tree are 65-70mm long, 15mm wide and are concolourous (same colour on both sides). The pedicel (flower stalk) is 3mm long and the unfurled tepal (outer surface of flower) is 11mm long. Here's another image. |
 This mystery plant is most probably a hybrid of P. levis (due to its red branchlets) and P. myrtilloides (due to its hairy smaller leaves and non-flaky trunk). I have included images (some with my trusty rule) of - a branch, its trunk, new growth, leaves, unopened flower, opened flower, and the plant itself. Any comments would be most welcomed. |
 Identified by the rusty brown hairs on the outer layer of its flowers (the tepals). There are three subspecies. Subsp. laurina has smooth leaves. |
 This distinctive toothed grevillea with its red branches flowers in hanging swamps in spring. |
 This stunning crimson ground-cover has a natural occurring hybrid with Grevillea acanthifolia (see left) that is known as Grevillea x gaudichaudii. |
 This delightful scrub (to 2 metres) produces vibrant pink flowers in spring. Also see our Spider Flowers web page. |
 Distinguished from the other Grey Spider Flowers (G. buxifolia) by its narrower and very hairy leaves, and at 20mm wide its flowers are half the size. It also lacks the little appendage at the end of its legs (styles). The foot-like pads at the end of the style are greeny-grey, where the (G. buxifolia)'s are a reddy-brown grey. Here's another image. |
 Also called the Spiky Red Spider Flower. There are seven identified subspecies; the one shown here is most probably ssp. trinervis - identified by its Blue Mountains location, its red colour and the width of its leaves - > 1mm. |
 Suspended on a stalk and looking much like a spider hanging by its silk thread, it is easy to see where this delightful wildflower gets its name. The flower is around 60mm across. The oval concave leaves are 15mm long and 10mm wide and are hairy underneath. The botanical name comes from the mucro (leaf tip). Here's another image. |
 Identified by its Rosemary like recurved leaves, it flowers in spring. |
Hakeas. There are about 150 species of Hakea - all endemic to Australia. Their distinctive woody fruit (seed capsule) distinguishes them from the Grevillea genus. The fruit of the Hakea does not open until the branch supporting it dies. |
 Arguably the most prickly customer in the bush. Its leaves are hard and sharp. It's named after the shape of its fruit (seed pod). It has white flowers in summer. |
 Also called the Broad-leaved Hakea, it is identified from other Hakeas by its leaves - which are flat and have three veins. It flowers in spring. |
 Only found in the upper Blue Mountains, Hakea pachyphylla is distinguished from H. propinqua by its yellow flowers, later flowering (spring) and smoother fruit. |
 The floral emblem of New South Wales. The crimson flowers appear in spring and are 15cm in diameter. Truly magnificent. Also see our NSW Waratah web page. |
 There are only two species in this genera - both endemic to NSW. It is identified by its "ternate" leaves (leaves divided into three). S. montanum has flatter leaves than S. paludosum and has a distinct mid-vein. The name "Mountain Symphionema" is not widely used. |
 Spot flowering throughout the year, but especially in the warmer months, its red flowers can be easily seen. Also see our Mountain Devil web page. |
 The Conospermum flower identifies the genus - it has a three pronged bottom lip. C. taxifolium is distinguished from C. ericifolium by its wider leaves - > 1mm. |
 The long stems emerge from, what looks like, a patch of long grass. The flowers are a lilac colour and appear in spring. |
 This small shrub is recognised through the year by its unique leaves, and then in summer by its spikes of white flowers. |