We will take a short walk along the Main Path today, where there are plenty of plants in flower.

1. Turn right as you exit the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) to see on your right Platytheca galioides [Section 221], with fine green foliage and deep purple bell flowers. This plant is native to southwestern Western Australia.
2. Also on your right is Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Scarlet Sprite’ [Section 174] with fine green linear foliage and red spider flowers.
3. Further on your right is Acacia gordonii [Section 174], a small shrub with fine, close dark green foliage and bright golden balls of flowers. In the wild this plant is restricted to north-west of Sydney and is endangered.
4. Chorizema cordatum [Section 174], or Heart-leaved Flame Pea, on the right in a pot is a showy plant with vivid red flowers on a weeping shrub with bright green prickly foliage. It grows naturally in the moist south western parts of Western Australia.
5. On the right in a pot is Hovea asperifolia [Section 174], with grey-green linear foliage close to the stem and small purple flowers with darker centres. This plant occurs in far south-eastern New South Wales, in the Australian Capital Territory, and in eastern Victoria east from Daylesford.
6. Acacia myrtifolia [Section 174] is an interesting and unusual wattle that has bright red new growth and stems with green elliptical phyllodes and cream balls of flowers. It is often called the Red-stemmed Wattle or Myrtle Wattle. It is found in all six Australian states.
7. Cross the bridge and skirt past the café to see on your left Daviesia horrida [Section 245], with grey spiky linear foliage, yellow buds and small pea flowers of orange and red. This shrub is endemic to south-west Western Australia.
8. Further on your left is Grevillea sericea subsp. sericea [Section 244], a small bush with light green foliage and white fluffy flowers. This plant occurs west of Sydney.
9. Also on your left is Libertia paniculata [Section 244], with light green strappy foliage and small white flowers held high. This species occurs naturally on the coast and adjacent ranges from south-east Queensland to eastern Victoria.
10. Epacris longifolia [Section 131], or Native Fuchsia, on your left has thin tubular red flowers with white tips on a small prickly bush. This plant from the heath family is found from the central coast of New South Wales to southern Queensland.
11. Further on your right is Phebalium squamulosum subsp. lineare [Section 240], a medium shrub with dull green foliage and yellow star flowers. It is found in the wild chiefly in upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
12. Grevillea rhyolitica subsp. rhyolitica, or Deua Flame [Section 240], on your right is a large bush with dark green foliage and bright red spider flowers. It occurs in south-eastern New South Wales.
13. Turn right towards the Crosbie Morrison Building to see on your right Hibbertia empetrifolia [Section 240], a groundcover with small green leaves and wiry stems ending in yellow flowers, from south-eastern New South Wales.
14. Turn right again towards the VIC to see on your left the Wee Jasper Grevillea, Grevillea iaspicula [Section 240], with bright green linear foliage and pink/cream flowers. This shrub is an endangered species endemic to southern New South Wales.
15. On your left is Philotheca myoporoides [Section 240], a neat bush with dull green foliage, pink buds and white star flowers endemic to south-eastern Australia.

Rosalind Walcott