New South Wales Christmas bush

Ceratopetalum gummiferum

"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.
NSW Christmas Bush - Ceratopetalum gummiferum  Australia,Ceratopetalum gummiferum,Geotagged,New South Wales Christmas bush,Summer

Appearance

Plants initially grow as rounded shrubs but mature to pyramidical trees. The leaves comprise three leaflets and are up to 8 cm long. The petioles are grooved on the upper side and are 10 to 20 mm long. Small, white five-petalled flowers appear in sprays from October in the species native range. As these die the sepals enlarge and become pink to red in colour, the display peaking at Christmas time in Australia.
New South Wales Christmas bush An evergreen native shrub that has three-pointed leaves and creamy flowers in spring. After flowering, the sepals turn a pink-red for a stunning show around Christmas time.
Grows to around 5 metres Australia,Ceratopetalum gummiferum,Cunoniaceae,Geotagged,New South Wales Christmas bush,Oxalidales,botany,plant,red flowers,summer

Naming

The specific name "gummiferum" alludes to the large amounts of gum that is discharged from cut bark.
NSW Christmas Bush  Australia,Ceratopetalum gummiferum,Geotagged,New South Wales Christmas bush,Summer

Distribution

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.

Habitat

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.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderOxalidales
FamilyCunoniaceae
GenusCeratopetalum
SpeciesC. gummiferum
Photographed in
Australia