Fauna & Flora

1. Flora

One of Australia's greatest treasures is its flora of a staggering of 24,000 different species of native plants already identified.

The Most Common species are : 

• The Acacia : with a genus of 1200 different existing species in the World from which 954 sorts found in Australia, it has large fluffy yellow and sweet-smelling flower heads. Growing mostly on the coast, at the mountain, or even in the dry inlands, it comes into flower in Spring (beginning of September). The Australian species are known as "wattles". Those "wattles" are the floral symbol of the country, and where although incorporated into the Australian coat of arms in 1912.

• The Grevillea : it's colorfull flowers do not only attract birds. They also fascinate Australian inhabitants  and other tourists, as they are the most popular and cultivated of Australian plants.

• The Melaleuca : with a genus of about 170 distinct species, and part of the Myrtle family, they are commonly known as "paperbacks" (under their tree form), "honey myrtles" or "tea trees" (under their smaller form). These plants are mainly used to produce tea tree oil for soaps and shampoos.

•  The Eremophila : with a genus of 214 different species, they are only found in Australia, and more specifically, in arid or semi-arid regions. They are often called "emu bushes" as the fleshy fruits they produce attracts many birs and animals (and as you have probably guessed, emus adore them). Anyways, be careful ! Some species are toxic.

• The Haemodoracea : with more than 100 sorts belonging to the family of herbing plants related to lilis, and with other kinds which you can typically find on kangaroo paws. These are small clumping plants with strappy leaves (about 1 metre high and 1 metre wide), which flowers have very little fragrance.

• The Eucalyptus : better known as "gum trees", Eucalyptus bushes are fully part of Australia's identity as they are an essential part of its culture, featuring art, music and literature. There are more than 700 species native to the island's land and only 12 come from outside the country. Growing almost everywhere, but absent from rainforests, they are a perfect shelter for birds and animals. In wet regions, those trees found refuge along streams or isolated ranges. They are very aromatic plants, commonly used for producing Eucalyptus oil. They used to be a vital source of timber and firewood.