The spectacular floral emblem of New South Wales, the Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) has featured prominently in art, architecture, and advertising, particularly since Australian federation. Renowned for its striking large red springtime inflorescences (flowerheads), each including hundreds of individual flowers., the plant was named by botanist James Edward Smith in his 1793, deriving from the superlative of the Latin word speciosus meaning 'beautiful' or 'handsome'.
