Australian Flora
Due to its isolation, huge range of environments and plant communities, Australia’s native flora is the world’s most diverse found in tropical rainforests, heathlands, deserts & alpine country. Estimates of native plant varieties range from 20 000 to 25 000.
Official floral emblems are: Golden Wattle (Commonwealth of Australia), Royal Bluebell (ACT), Waratah (NSW), Common Heath (Victoria), Cooktown Orchid (Qld), Sturt’s Desert Pea (SA), Red & Green Kangaroo Paw (WA), Tasmanian Blue Gum (Tasmania), Sturt’s Desert Rose (NT).
Common native species include: Acacia (Wattles) 1 200 species; Eucalyptus (Gum trees) 700 species; Melaleuca (Paper Barks, Tea Trees) 170 species; Eremophila (Emu Bush) 214 species - used for emu oil; Haemodoraceae (Kangaroo Paws) 100 species.