Curio

State Library of New South Wales
‘Ceratopetalum’ or New South Wales Christmas bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum), 1788–91

‘Ceratopetalum’ or New South Wales Christmas bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum), 1788–91

Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW; Purchased from Murray Marks, London, 1911; PXD 17, f. 19

Watercolour

The New South Wales Christmas Bush produces large amounts of gum. This is why the specific name is gummiferum.
Ceratopatalum gummiferum is one of nine species in the genus Ceratopetalum which occur in Australia and Papua New Guinea
Ceratopatalum gummiferum is native only to New South Wales, hence its name New South Wales Christmas Bush.
The New South Wales Christmas Bush provides food for bees, parrots and the larvae of the Dark pencil blue butterfly.
The New South Wales Christmas Bush grows up to 12 metres high and six metres wide.
The New South Wales Christmas Bush gets its common name because the outer part of its flowers turns bright red-pink around Christmas time.