Telopea mongaensis
Encyclopedia
Telopea mongaensis, commonly known as the Monga Waratah or Braidwood Waratah, is a shrub or small tree in the Proteaceae
family. Endemic to Australia, it grows at high altitude in south eastern New South Wales
. It bears many red flowerheads in spring, each made up of 28 to 65 individual flowers, and has narrow green leaves. It is often seen in moist areas at the edge of rainforest
or by streams in eucalyptus
forests.
, and it is from here that the seed pods then develop. Meanwhile, a crescent shaped nectary lies at the base of the gynophore. The flowerheads are surrounded by green or pink leafy bracts 1.2-4.5 cm (0.5-0.9 in) in length, much less prominent than those of the New South Wales Waratah. Flowering is followed by the development of woody seed pods, 4.5–7 cm (0.9-2.8 in) long.
It can be distinguished from the similar T. oreades, which has larger leaves and often grows with a tree-like habit.
in 1947, its specific name is derived from the region it grows, Monga. The type specimen collected on Sugarloaf Mountain near Braidwood
. It had previously been considered a form of Telopea oreades
. However, Cheel did not supply a means by which it could be distinguished from T. oreades. Later, microscopic analysis revealed that T. oreades had microscopic features termed sclereids while T. mongaensis did not.
Telopea mongaensis is one of five species from southeastern Australia which make up the genus Telopea. The genus lies in the subtribe Embothriinae, along with the tree waratahs (Alloxylon
) from eastern Australia and New Caledonia, and Oreocallis
and Chilean firetree (Embothrium coccineum
) from South America. Almost all these species have red terminal flowers, and hence the subtribe's origin and floral appearance must predate the splitting of Gondwana
into Australia, Antarctica, and South America over 60 million years ago.
to the south. Its habitat is on the margins of temperate rainforest or in wet eucalypt forest, where it may be found along creeks or on mountain slopes, at an altitude of 540 to 760 m. It is often associated with Eucalyptus fastigata
, Pinkwood (Eucryphia moorei
) and the Soft tree fern Dicksonia antarctica
.
in 1980. It attracts birds to the garden.
'Braidwood Brilliant' is a hybrid between this species and the showy Telopea speciosissima
.
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
family. Endemic to Australia, it grows at high altitude in south eastern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. It bears many red flowerheads in spring, each made up of 28 to 65 individual flowers, and has narrow green leaves. It is often seen in moist areas at the edge of rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
or by streams in eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
forests.
Description
Telopea mongaensis grows as a tall shrub to 6 m (20 ft) high. The thin leaves are 4–18 cm (1.6–7 in) in length, and 0.5–2 cm (0.2–0.8 in) wide. The red flowers form in spring. Open, thin and wiry, the flowerheads (inflorescences) are not as spectacular as those of T. speciosissima but are much more numerous on the plant. Each flowerhead is around 6 to 10 cm (2.4-4 in) in diameter, and composed of anywhere from 28 to 65 individual small flowers, or florets. Anthesis, or the opening of the flowers, begins at the edges or base of the flowerhead and moves to the centre. The individual flower bears a sessile anther (that is, it lacks a filament), which lies next to the stigma at the end of the style. The ovary lies at the base of the style and atop a stalk known as the gynophoreGynophore
A gynophore is the stalk of certain flowers which supports the gynoecium , elevating it above the branching points of other floral parts....
, and it is from here that the seed pods then develop. Meanwhile, a crescent shaped nectary lies at the base of the gynophore. The flowerheads are surrounded by green or pink leafy bracts 1.2-4.5 cm (0.5-0.9 in) in length, much less prominent than those of the New South Wales Waratah. Flowering is followed by the development of woody seed pods, 4.5–7 cm (0.9-2.8 in) long.
It can be distinguished from the similar T. oreades, which has larger leaves and often grows with a tree-like habit.
Taxonomy
First described by Australian botanist Edwin CheelEdwin Cheel
Edwin Cheel was an Australian botanist and collector.Before being appointed as a staff member of Centennial Park in 1897 he was a gardener in New South Wales and Queensland. Later he transferred to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. In 1908 he joined the National Herbarium, and was appointed Chief...
in 1947, its specific name is derived from the region it grows, Monga. The type specimen collected on Sugarloaf Mountain near Braidwood
Braidwood, New South Wales
Braidwood is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, in Palerang Shire. It is located on the busy Kings Highway linking Canberra to Batemans Bay on the coast. It is about 200 kilometres south west of Sydney and about 60 kilometres inland from the coast...
. It had previously been considered a form of Telopea oreades
Telopea oreades
Telopea oreades, commonly known as the Gippsland-, Mountain- or Victorian Waratah, is a large shrub or small tree from southeastern Australia in the family Proteaceae. It is a plant of wet forest and rainforest. Several cultivars that are hybrid forms with T...
. However, Cheel did not supply a means by which it could be distinguished from T. oreades. Later, microscopic analysis revealed that T. oreades had microscopic features termed sclereids while T. mongaensis did not.
Telopea mongaensis is one of five species from southeastern Australia which make up the genus Telopea. The genus lies in the subtribe Embothriinae, along with the tree waratahs (Alloxylon
Alloxylon
Alloxylon is a genus of five species in the Proteaceae family of mainly small to medium-sized trees. They are native to the eastern coast of Australia, with one species, A. brachycarpum found in New Guinea and the Aru Islands. The genus is a relatively new creation, being split off from Oreocallis...
) from eastern Australia and New Caledonia, and Oreocallis
Oreocallis
Oreocallis is a genus in the family Proteaceae. There is only one species, O. grandiflora. This plant is native to mountainous regions in Peru and Ecuador in South America....
and Chilean firetree (Embothrium coccineum
Embothrium coccineum
Chilean firetree, Chilean firebush, Notro in Spanish , is a small evergreen tree in the family Proteaceae. It grows in the temperate forests of Chile and Argentina....
) from South America. Almost all these species have red terminal flowers, and hence the subtribe's origin and floral appearance must predate the splitting of Gondwana
Gondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
into Australia, Antarctica, and South America over 60 million years ago.
Distribution and habitat
This plant may be seen between Fitzroy Falls in the north, and Monga National ParkMonga National Park
Monga National Park is located 230 km south west of Sydney, Australia. The closest town nearby is Braidwood.Monga features outstanding high altitude eucalyptus forest and cool temperate rainforest....
to the south. Its habitat is on the margins of temperate rainforest or in wet eucalypt forest, where it may be found along creeks or on mountain slopes, at an altitude of 540 to 760 m. It is often associated with Eucalyptus fastigata
Eucalyptus fastigata
Brown Barrel or Cut-Tail is a common eucalyptus tree of south eastern Australia.It can grow in excess of 60 metres in height, though is mostly seen between 30 and 45 metres tall. Brown Barrel grows in cooler areas of high rainfall with fertile soils...
, Pinkwood (Eucryphia moorei
Eucryphia moorei
Eucryphia moorei, commonly known as Pinkwood, Plumwood, or Eastern Leatherwood is a tree found in southeastern NSW, Australia. It also occurs just over the border at the Howe Range in Victoria. Pinkwood is the dominant tree species of cool-temperate rainforests of southeastern NSW. Young plants...
) and the Soft tree fern Dicksonia antarctica
Dicksonia antarctica
Dicksonia antarctica, known as the Soft Tree Fern, Man Fern or Tasmanian Tree Fern, is an evergreen tree fern native to parts of Australia, namely south-east Queensland, coastal New South Wales and Victoria and Tasmania.- Anatomy and biology :...
.
Cultivation
Telopea mongaensis is more tolerant of shade, heavier soils and cooler climates than its more showy relative. It grows as a more compact plant of around 2 m (7 ft) in height in full sun. It is frost tolerant and has been grown in southern England, and has been awarded an Award of Merit by the Royal Horticultural SocietyRoyal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
in 1980. It attracts birds to the garden.
'Braidwood Brilliant' is a hybrid between this species and the showy Telopea speciosissima
Telopea speciosissima
Telopea speciosissima, commonly known as the New South Wales waratah or simply waratah, is a large shrub in the plant family Proteaceae. It is endemic to New South Wales in Australia and is the floral emblem of that state...
.