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2018 Sydney: Christmas Bush Star

Ceratopetalum gummiferum, the New South Wales Christmas Bush, is a tall shrub or small tree popular in cultivation due to its sepals that turn bright red-pink at around Christmas time. The petals are actually small and white - it is the sepals that enlarge to about 12mm after the flower sets fruit and starts to dry out.

 

The specific name gummiferum alludes to the large amounts of gum that is discharged from cut bark.

 

The species is endemic to New South Wales where it occurs to the east of the Great Dividing Range from Ulladulla in the south to Evans Head in the north.

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Uploaded on January 15, 2018
Taken on January 15, 2018