Royal Bluebell

(Wahlenbergia gloriosa)
Plant Family: Campanulaceae

The Royal Bluebell is the Floral Emblem of the Australian Capital Territory.

Royal Bluebell

photo from wikipedia.com under
GNU Free Documentation License

The genus (category) Wahlenbergia grows mainly in South America, New Zealand and Australia and belongs to the Bluebell family Campanulaceae.

Found mainly in the high mountain regions of the alps in the Australian Capital Territory, southeast New South Wales and Victoria.

A frost-hardy ground cover that has small dark green leaves in a rose shape about 2.5 cm long.

The flowers are a deep purple/blue colour up to 2-3 cm in diameter, and are vivid and stunning.

Flowering time is normally from October to March.

Named in honour of a Swedish Professor of Botany, named Georg Goran Wahlenberg.

In November of 1981 a committee was formed to recommend a suitable floral emblem for the Australian Capital Territory.

The Royal Bluebell was officially proclaimed the Australian Capital Territory Floral Emblem on the 26th of May 1982

They are protected and should not be picked or collected.


Go to next flora page: Waratah

Return from Royal Bluebell to Australian-Information-Stories home page

"The Legend of Bimi"

Introduction

There's a tale that begins in the sand hills
That I would like to tell,
Built from myth and many legends,
And my pen it does compel.

The desert's a hot, a hostile place,
Nothing's changed since time began,
There's a hazy unreality there
As if it, in the dreamtime was planned.

The noon of the day is so hot and still,
And over all an expectant hush,
Like a canvas that's waiting impatiently
For the touch of the artists brush.

The fire of the day can change swifly
To the night of startlingly cold,
Many legends are told of the people
Who live in this land so old.


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"The Legend of Bimi" just go to our
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